Universal Epic Universe Previews Begin April 17 for Select Guests

Apr 08, 2025 in "Universal Orlando Resort"

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Universal Epic Universe concept art

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Posted: Tuesday April 8, 2025 1:30pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Universal Orlando Resort will begin previews of its new theme park, Universal Epic Universe, on April 17, 2025—more than a month ahead of the official opening on May 22.

Select groups, including annual passholders and guests staying at Universal Orlando hotels, now have access to purchase preview tickets.

Universal Epic Universe - Front Gate

Who Can Attend the Previews

Beginning April 8, the following guests are eligible to purchase preview tickets for Universal Epic Universe:

Universal Orlando Annual and Seasonal Passholders
Guests with a 2025 Military Freedom Pass
Universal Rewards Signature VISA Card holders
Guests with confirmed stays at Universal Orlando hotels

Additional ticket access for other audiences will roll out in the coming weeks.

What to Expect During Previews

Guests with preview access will be among the first to experience Epic Universe and its five immersive lands:

Celestial Park
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
Dark Universe

Universal has noted that availability of attractions, dining, and other offerings may vary during the preview period as final preparations continue for the full launch on May 22.

New Hotel Opening April 16

Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a 500-room Loews property located adjacent to Epic Universe, is now accepting reservations for arrivals beginning April 16. Guests staying at the hotel during previews will be just steps away from the new park and can enter through a dedicated entrance from the hotel lobby (valid theme park admission required).

Universal Helios Grand Hotel a Loews Hotel - Exterior

More Information

Preview ticket availability is limited. For details on how to purchase and to check eligibility, visit UniversalOrlando.com/epicuniverse.

Discuss on the Forums

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Pizza Moon20 days ago

Back to the Future or Ghostbusters would be crazy popular.

lentesta20 days ago

BTTF is still a candidate. I’ll ask around.

999th Happy Haunt20 days ago

Len, wanna see if we can loop back to this since Supercharged closing is official now. Any updates on what replacement could be?

Andrew C25 days ago

That is a pretty long are jetting out.

Squishy25 days ago

BrianLoJan 08, 2026

Sorry, that makes much more sense. I thought you were calling it the third iteration of this attraction. I wouldn’t remotely call it the best new park, not even the best in the last ten years. But I enjoy it a lot and seem to like Ministry much, much more than the consensus. The repetition I think tells a better, consistent story. Instead of a forbidden Journey highlights reel. It’s because it has a through line that it is one of the better executed attractions out of Universal; I disagree that it serves no purpose having the trio follow in a consistent manner.

Pizza MoonJan 07, 2026

The elevators you see with character projections in the first scenes are mounted on a KUKA arm... I'm fully aware of how the ride system works; that wasn't what I was referring to. I've been on the ride and have studied it extensively. My point was that ride scenes repeat for no reason, and things were scaled back, giving it a weird pacing issue.

sedatiJan 07, 2026

I think they're referring to the elevator with the trio, not the one we're in.

TalkToEthanJan 07, 2026

Traditional Uni Orlando(Studio and IOA) has, in my opinion, some uneatable food joints(as in literally not fit for consumption)——food so nasty that I chose not to eat after positioning myself at a table with Mel’s Drive In on one occasion and Buger Digs on another. And still even more spots that I had a close up view of other people’s horrific food like Circus Mc, Fantastic 4 and Richters—as in earthquake at the SF area. Now Mythos is a great restaurant with ambiance/atmosphere and product—-deserving all its accolades

BrianLoJan 07, 2026

It’s a completely unique ride platform, it is not a Kuka arm. I’m also not acutely aware of cut elements, but that of course doesn’t mean there were not.

Andrew CJan 07, 2026

Options like minion cafe, croissant moon bakery, desert kabab house, confisco grille, green eggs and ham, three broomsticks, leaky cauldron, mythos and today cafe are all decent options. But agreed epic steps it up.

TalkToEthanJan 07, 2026

Yes, Epic wins ……such an extremely low bar to surpass. 3 out of 4 well known fast food burger joints (be it Wendy’s, Jack in the Box, Big Kahuna or Moobys) put out out better product than the likes of Burger Digs, Mel’s Drive In or Circus Mcgurkus plus 10 or more on property

AidenRodriguez731Jan 06, 2026

Epic definitely wins on food, mostly because IOA and Studios are pretty bad when it comes to the food. Having “themed food” at Universal is definitely a more modern thing and it shows