Universal Epic Universe Previews Begin April 17 for Select Guests

12 days ago in "Universal Orlando Resort"

Gallery / 16 Photos
Universal Epic Universe concept art

See all 16

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

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

flynnibus54 minutes ago

I'd say it's more an arcade style... which is Nintendo's OG form anyway :) VCS didn't have a bulb top joystick.

EpicUniverseUpdate1 hour ago

I agree. I also like Orlando Science. Gatorland is also good. It is not quite as Epic! as another little known park that has an official opening soon, though.. (Hint: May 22nd 😉))

celluloid1 hour ago

It is actually pretty dang rad. And for scale and value, Gatorland is amazing.

drkarcher221 hour ago

The Orlando Science Center is the finest attraction in the industry. It’s settled. This is my line in the sand

drkarcher222 hours ago

Fascinating that they went with an Atari style joystick instead of a something evocative of an NES controller or something similar from Nintendo like the SNES. I feel like those two are more symbolic of any type of game controller than what they made from the N64 onwards which all felt like Nintendo trying something new and experimental

celluloid5 hours ago

Indeed. And my point was a shift in audience likes and you know this discussion recently here has been dicussing where guests will shift spending their time or spending, and Epic is a part of Universal Orlando Resort. Be careful with absolutes. There are plenty of people going in the door for HTTYD as the fanbase is surprisngly substaintial(market research prove it and one of the reasons it got a land approved and an odd live action remake greenlit) HTTYD is Dreamworks and Netflix has had a hit series with it(the series was parntership with Dreamworks and Netflix). So it is directly connected to EPIC and you could limit it there if you would like anyway if it makes you feel better. But no correction was really called for.

James Alucobond5 hours ago

This is indeed the Epic Universe topic. 🤷‍♂️

celluloid5 hours ago

No correction needed. I know you love trying. If you limit EPIC. Dreamworks and Netflix have hits of their own that are also represented around the resort. It is not just EPIC. You see this in what is built and of course that expands when you include Illumination, a general family favorite. So yes it is part of what and why I mentioned it.

James Alucobond5 hours ago

You said Dreamworks and Netflix. I was correcting that. The HTTYD and Monsters lands are great lands, but Mario and Potter are the IP getting people in the door. I have no bias against those properties or their use (in fact, I prefer the ones they're now featuring to the ones they own), but they are not part of what you mentioned.

celluloid5 hours ago

Yep. Potter also has French motifs.

Mike C5 hours ago

Dark Universe has pitch black toilets and sinks. There's some artwork on the walls. The one in Berk by the Untrainable Dragon show and Toothless has viking style artwork on the walls and bronze "dragon scale" sinks. But this is the important stuff here, shockingly none of the youtube crowd has abused the unlimited coke freestyle cups and made use of it for a restroom review yet.

celluloid5 hours ago

Always have. Sony, WB parnterships etc... It was irrelevant to my post. Does not change the fact that they have as much as what this gen likes the park offerings in terms of properties the mouse. This is partly why there are shifts. It is not just because what Uni has is popular(they have always had popular franchises of course for synergy and that is what gets greenlights to build of course, but it is just as much what a bad time Disney has had in box office and producing from production studios. There is your bias again coming out "but they dON'T OWNZ IT!"