Seriously, front of security line, front of ride line and Donkey Kong is down AGAIN. At what point is it unacceptable? It’s such a temperamental ride. It seems like it’s almost never online. We’ve done all the other major rides so no rush to do those. But man, it’s so frustrating.

Edit: we went straight to Bowsers challenge which also broke down midway (and sucks IMO) and so we went to the concierge, friendly and positive demeanor, and they comped us single use Express Passes, so I guess we will get to see if Minecart Madness is or isn’t worth the hype after all…

Edit 2: we got on… it was fun but it was short and bumpy and I do not understand the hype at all. Absolutely would not rush back to go on it

Edit 3: We did everything. Epic has great food and looks great but it feels a bit padded. Nintendo world theming was amazing. But Bowsers challenge just felt clunky, like the technology wasn’t there yet. Mine Cart madness was underwhelming but fun. Hiccups and Stardust races were fantastic. Loved meeting Toothless.

From the elegant Parisian façades to the beautiful details of Place Cachée, every corner is a masterpiece. 🥹

Photos by me! 😎

Anyone else with me? Maybe it's just the nostalgia of childhood. The original show wasn't 'great', but I remember being awed by it when I was a kid. I don't want another show, but a ghostbusters themed ride would be amazing. Like Spiderman or Transformers. But Ghostbusters.

This is my informal petition.

I just got an interview for attractions but I have also applied for another role as well. I was wondering if they would interview for both positions? TIA!

These are some of the pictures I took from Dark Universe that I really enjoyed taking. Do you have a favorite spot in this land?

Ministry of Magic

Hi Universal Enthusiasts, my family, my brother’s family and my mom are going to Universal Orlando during Labor Day week. We drive down on the Saturday before Labor Day (all day drive) and drive back the following Saturday. We plan to visit all three parks plus Volcano bay.

We have 5 day Park hoppers and 2 express ticket days. We were thinking 1 day at VB, 2 days going between Universal and IOA and 2 Epic days. But I am having trouble deciding which days to do what and most importantly, which days to use our Express passes and what is the best way to use them (go to all parks and do everything as fast as possible or use them for epic and maybe one other park both days??). We have to use both express passes within a 4 day window which means we can’t use them Monday and Friday which seems like the most obvious answer (Universal sucks when it comes to this stuff) so we have to choose Monday to Thursday or Tuesday to Friday. My planner keeps asking me what I want to do and I have no idea what the best answer is.

We had planned to rest Sunday to recover from the long drive but we could potentially go to parks, I wouldn’t want to use the express passes that day though.

For context we have all been before but not to Epic and it’s been a long time for my brother and his family.

Also if you want to give us your food recs we’d love to hear them. Especially in Epic.

If you’ve stuck with me this long thank you and HELP!!!

Can you use two different multi-day Express Passes on the same day?
Months ago, I bought two different 5-day multi-park Express Passes for my trip in September, with the intention of using them on 10 separate days. But my very complicated plans have changed, and now I'm only going to Universal parks on 8 days (as of now, at least.) Because they allow you 8 days to use a 5 day ticket, I have several overlap days, where I could use either or both passes.

At this point, it's not worth trying to trade down to a 3-day EP (even if they'd let me), since a 3 day pass for those days is now $55 more than the 5-day one was!
So, I'd like to use both passes on those overlap days to get some insane number of rides in! ;-)
It won't actually be all day, though, since one of those days I'm doing HHN Stay and Scream starting at 2PM, and the other, I'm doing Volcano Bay earlier that day, until probably around the same time. But I might as well try to get what I can from my investment!

I will have both passes printed in a lanyard (as well as on my phone) to manually scan them. But I know that Universal is increasingly using facial recognition technology for EPs. Will that cause problems with my plan? Would their system think I was trying to use the same pass twice?
Could I get around them by manually scanning each pass each time I use them?

Has anyone else successfully used two different EPs on the same day? How did it work for you?

Thanks for any help!

My heart is set on the Seraphina Picquery wand, but I’m having a hard time deciding what to do.

The problem is that it only comes in first generation, and I honestly really don’t like the look of any of the second-generation wands. If I’m spending $85+ on a wand, I want to love it.

On the other hand, we’re traveling to Universal for a week (not locals), and I was really looking forward to doing all of the interactive quests and app experiences with my 13-year-old son. I’m worried I’ll regret missing out on those if I stick with a first-gen wand.

For those of you who have actually used the second-generation wands, are the app games and exclusive features worth choosing a wand you don’t love? Or would you still buy the wand that feels “right” even if it means missing some of the new experiences?
I’d love to hear from people who’ve actually tried both!

HELLO!

Okay so has anyone here who is disabled (could be physically, could be something like autism or adhd) been to epic universe in universal studios? im looking to compile experiences from people with all different types of disabilities and disorders. it doesnt matter if you ended up using any formal accommodations, i just have a couple questions so i can compile an epic universe accessibility guide. i plan to make a video on this

sorry if this counts as self promo. below is a form, if you are disabled in any way could you please fill it out? its anonymous, only experiences and disabilities will be shared. Any personal info you may choose to share will not be shown. there is a name section where you can put whatever name you want to be read in the video. could be darth vader for all i care. if no name is provided, youll be referred to as anonymous.

Our family was there in April/May, we thought it would be a once in a lifetime thing but we enjoyed it so much we are coming again next year from The Netherlands.

This year we stayed at Surfside Hotel and really enjoyed it, not sure if we just got a great deal but when looking now at the 2 bed suite the price has doubled for next April compared to this April.

Anyway we will only be doing the Universal parks this time around and I am looking for Hotel recommendations, we would prefer maybe a 2 bedroom or suite but even a double that is spacious would be great, as long as it's close to the parks, I just feel paying twice as much for Surfside seems a bit much.

Thanks guys.

The Family Room. 🥺🥺🥺

I grew up poor and for my birthday my friends gifted me a season pass to Universal studios and island of adventure Orlando. They also have been taking me there every week so I can experience as much of it as I can.

I have been googling the secrets, freebies, and tricks to do while there since sadly most the rides im too tall for (the mummy returns, the forbidden journey, and escape from gringott’s im too tall for and Ive wanted escape from gringott’s since they gave sneak peaks before it was even released and return of the mummy for 20 years so that really hurts)

Anyways I wrote this big list as I want to fill a time capsule (the time turner popcorn box) with any small trinkets I can get as honestly while I have this pass is probably the only time I will get to go to an amusement park. Sadly almost everything on the list they no longer do. It said you could get a ticket for the night bus or a paper hogwarts train schedule, jason bourne mission files, MIN immigration form, spell tip cards, butterbeer mustache card, wand repair certificate…… and since I cant get on the gringott’s ride I really wanted to get the tour.

I went on a big mission with my list but sadly a lot of the staff said either they dont do it anymore or for the tour they were understaffed so Id have to try another day so hopefully still la chance on that….. I also heard that sometimes I ark goers would hide handmade trinkets around the park so keep an eye out… and I checked a lot of bushes and trees lol but nothing…. So I wondered if people do it still? Or if anyone knows some fun tips tricks and secrets around the park or maybe places for little freebies to put in my time capsule

It’s Official as of 6pm July 19 2026 after opening May 28 1999, being open for 27 years Thunder falls Terrace in Islands of Adventure is officially closed for good. So many great memories there. Great Food great people I’m really gonna miss that place!

Thunder Falls is now extinct like the Dinos!

Hi friends,

AOP from Florida for years. 26F

Never done this before but here goes nothing.

I’m heading out to Orlando this weekend - very impromptu! I’m Looking to move up here so I’m trying to do a test run. Would absolutely love to meet up for likeminded folks around the same age if anyone’s down to go on some coasters after 4.

Thank you!

Has anyone brought their film camera to the parks? What do I do security-wise since they have the x rays and I don’t want to fry my film, can they hand check it?

So we all know ET says goodbye to guests based on your interstellar passport. When the team members ask for your name you can see they type 2 or 3 keys at max before handing you your pass and moving on to the next guest. Their efficiency is truly impressive.

What are they actually typing in those few keystrokes because it certainly wasn't my name??