Epic Universe, set to officially open its gates on May 22, 2025, is a spectacular addition to Universal Orlando Resort and the greater Central Florida theme park landscape. With its innovative attractions and immersive environments, it has already generated considerable buzz among theme park enthusiasts and tourists alike, and rightly so. However, as with any new venture, there remain opportunities for improvement, and that’s perfectly reasonable. In a previous post, we provided our full review of Epic Universe, which you can read by clicking here. In this article, we will explore several additions that we believe could enhance the park experience further.
Expanding the Flat Ride Offerings
Flat rides are attractions where the primary motion occurs parallel to the ground, focusing more on spinning, swinging, or other rotational dynamics. Examples include Disney’s Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride, teacup-style rides, carousels, swing rides, and even Alien Swirling Saucers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Flat rides are simpler to implement, more cost-effective, and require less space. They’re featured at most major parks. Currently, Epic Universe boasts two flat rides—Constellation Carousel and Dragon Racer’s Rally—which are fewer than the four flat rides available at Islands of Adventure. Although flat rides may not generate a lot of excitement within the theme park community, they play a vital role in enriching the overall park experience. In truth, not every ride needs to be a top-tier experience—achieving a balance is essential, and that’s where flat rides come into play.
We propose adding at least one more flat ride, which could be based on a popular design, involve a modified ride system, or showcase an original concept. We believe that Celestial Park would serve as an ideal location, as it can effortlessly blend with the theme and existing layout. Introducing a new flat ride, particularly one that focuses on gentle fun rather than thrills, would not just enhance the attraction lineup but infuse the park with additional kinetic energy. It could also help distribute crowds more evenly by slightly alleviating the pressure on the more popular rides.
Introducing Simple Dark Rides
A notable absence in the lineup of attractions at Epic Universe is the inclusion of simple dark rides. By “simple dark rides,” we mean attractions that generally consist of a fully enclosed layout, primarily or entirely physical sets, and smooth movements. Iconic examples from Universal and Disney include E.T. Adventure, The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. While Epic Universe offers amazing technologically advanced attractions like Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, these rides can sometimes be too intense for younger guests or those sensitive to motion-based experiences. Simple dark rides can still offer immersive experiences that rival more high-tech attractions while remaining accessible to guests of all ages and interests. Universal is actually really good at making these types of rides—it’s just not something they typically develop anymore.
By incorporating a dark ride that emphasizes storytelling and tangible environments over screens, intricate technology, and jarring movements, Epic Universe could appeal to a wider audience, especially families in search of nostalgic and comforting ride experiences. Until that time comes, Universal Orlando still faces challenges in capturing the core audience of Walt Disney World guests, as it still lacks attractions that cater to a broad spectrum of preferences; this isn’t inherently negative, but it’s a point worth considering. It’s important to acknowledge, however, that Epic Universe is an improvement over Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida in accommodating younger guests and those who are sensitive to certain ride experiences.
Enhancing Shade
The Florida sun can be unforgiving, and unfortunately, Epic Universe currently lacks sufficient shade to protect guests from its intensity. As a brand new park, Epic Universe is filled with young trees, and while these will eventually provide more shade as they mature, the park still faces challenges during the hotter months. This is particularly important in Florida, where the heat can be overwhelming for much of the year, especially in the summer.
Super Nintendo World, for example, offers minimal shade due to its largely open layout and artificial game-like design, which, while visually appealing, means there are very few real trees—except for the Donkey Kong Country section. The existing shading options are quite limited. Even Yoshi’s Adventure, a slow-moving, mostly outdoor ride, is exposed to the brutal Florida heat. This contrasts with similar rides like The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride at Islands of Adventure and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at Magic Kingdom, both of which provide a roof over ride vehicles.
Moreover, the vast walkways in Celestial Park, although beneficial for managing crowd flow, can create challenges for providing shade. It’s noticeable that Celestial Park either lacks trees in some areas for aesthetic reasons—to maintain visibility of structures and fountains—or to save on costs, opting for plants instead. Adding additional landscaping or other shading solutions would greatly enhance the guest experience, making Epic Universe a more welcoming environment during peak sun hours. Implementing these improvements will ensure guests can enjoy all the park has to offer without the discomfort of the sweltering Florida heat.
Catering to Picky Eaters
The food options at Epic Universe truly are fantastic compared to anything Universal Orlando has offered in its other theme parks. Epic Universe boasts not only creative dishes but also tasty meals that draw inspiration from the themed worlds. We hope that the quality of these food options remains high when the park opens at full capacity and that this approach will also be embraced in Universal’s other parks. However, several of our readers have highlighted that the park lacks the traditional food options typically found at theme parks; offerings like burgers, hot dogs, and chicken tenders are either limited or presented in unique forms. For instance, Das Stakehaus serves burgers with a black bun.
We definitely don’t want Epic Universe to turn into a venue for basic theme park fare, like the quick-service restaurants at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and we’re certain many guests share this sentiment, too, due to the general reputation of theme park food. However, we also recognize the need for a few additional basic meal options scattered throughout the park. This would help accommodate picky eaters who prefer simpler choices without needing to heavily modify a dish or resort to ordering from the kids’ menu.
Epic Universe is already shaping up to be an extraordinary theme park, filled with innovative attractions and immersive experiences. We believe these additions can further enrich the guest experience. These suggestions are intended to elevate what is already a remarkable experience at Universal Orlando. Click here to read our full review of Epic Universe.
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