Epic Universe Preview!

Happy Tuesday, friends! A very quick bit of breaking news: Walt Disney World has released packages through October 31, 2026, and ALL KIDS (3-9) get free dining next year as long as you are staying on site with a dining plan for everyone in the room! AND it will stack with future promotions! I've never seen a deal like this before, so make sure to book early to get the resort you want. My quote form is on the menu bar at the top of the page! Sorry for the delay between updates. Lilly and I have been traveling a lot this month, and I was sick for half of it. Stay tuned for lots of details about our most recent Disney Cruise on the Dream! For today, I have a last minute surprise: We got into Epic Universe on an Annual Passholder preview last Friday! This was super last minute and involved some creativity since we were cruising out of Fort Lauderdale, but we made it happen thanks to Brightline.

Epic is currently in "technical rehearsals" for Annual Passholders, Military, and Resort Guests, but tickets are very limited, so don't go planning a trip solely for the preview. I was already in Florida, so it made sense for us. Since this is a preview, I will skip over some of the rough bits - that's what rehearsals are for! I will say, early visitors should pack their patience, sunscreen, hats, and water. There is a distinct lack of shade in this park!

I knew that since I was visiting with Lilly, the vast majority of our day was going to be in Super Nintendo World and Isle of Berk, and I am not sad about it. These two lands are INCREDIBLY immersive and colorful!

Our first stop in Super Nintendo World was Toadstool Cafe, which we didn't get to experience at Universal Hollywood. It's just as good as we had been told, both in theming and food. It's really better than theme park quick service has any right to be, and the restaurant itself is adorable and entertaining for kids, with lots of video screens of the Toads going about their day. And one of the servers surprised Lilly with a 1UP sipper!

After we ate, we were able to ride Yoshi's Adventure, which is a slow moving family ride. I know some folks have been talking about Epic being a bit more friendly to larger guests, and I would say based on that Yoshi ride vehicle, no. I'm sorry, I know this is a pain point at Universal. But the Donkey Kong Mine Cart Madness ride vehicle seemed a bit better. (I couldn't get Lilly to ride the ride, but we tried the seats outside the queue.) The Donkey Kong area is really well done, and it was fun to at least watch the roller coaster with it's double track! It looks similar in "thrill level" to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

We did try the souvenir sipper drink at The Bubbly Barrel. There is no menu signage on this spot yet, and no menu online, so all I can tell you is that it's Dole Whip Float-esque with some crunch! And I thought the price was quite reasonable since it comes with the cup and a Donkey Kong spoon.

A quick side quest for the Ministry of Magic: It felt like there was a lot that was not yet open here, and my phone died before I could take many photos. I come from a French city, and the Ministry looks a lot like St Louis, something I realized later. Cafe L'Air de la Sirene gorgeous and the food is very good, especially the quiche Lorainne. The entire land is very, VERY French - signs and all - which Lilly found a bit off-putting and confusing. At the end of the day, it's no Diagon Alley. But it would have been extremely tough to out-do Diagon Alley! At least you know you can see all the Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands in one trip to Universal Orlando.

I'm saving the best for last: ISLE OF BERK! I said what I said!This is the best land, and I could have spent the entire day there. We spent about half the day seeing The Untrainable Dragon show, waiting in line to meet Toothless, riding Fyre Drill, and shopping. The atmosphere in this land is just so well done.

I'm really looking forward to getting back here with another grown up so I can ride Hiccup's Wing Gliders and Dragon Racer's Rally. I really wish we'd had a chance to try some of the food here as well.

Hiccup and Astrid are adorable, and Ruffnut andTuffnut are hilarious. The roaming Vikings (the other being Gobber, who we only saw from a distance) are one of my favorite things about this land. The Discord asked for no spoilers on the Untrainable Dragon show, but you simply MUST see it! The former theater kid in me cried, for real. It's so magical! I am going to share a quick video of Lilly meeting Toothless and Hiccup, so if you don't want to see that, you're done here! bye!

I know a lot of you are DYING to hear about Dark Universe, and I am sorry I didn't get to it during previews! I think I can confidently say that, based on the other new lands, and the merch, you are not going to be disappointed. Be sure to get on my list for Halloween this year!