Epic Universe early park admission (now with Dark Universe) | Rides open, eligible hotels
Epic Universe opens an hour early for guests staying at a Universal Orlando hotel, allowing exclusive access to select attractions in the new theme park.
Last updated May 31, 2025; original version published Aug. 22, 2024.
Epic Universe early park admission
Guests staying overnight at any of the 11 onsite Universal Orlando Resort hotels receive early access to enter the new Universal Epic Universe theme park prior to its official daily opening time.
The following Epic Universe worlds and attractions are open during the early park admission period now through Dec. 31, 2025 (subject to change):
- Celestial Park
- Stardust Racers (roller coaster)
- Constellation Carousel
- Super Nintendo World
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (dark ride)
- Yoshi’s Adventure (slow-moving, elevated rail ride)
- Mine-Cart Madness (roller coaster)
- Dark Universe
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment (thrilling dark ride)
- Curse of the Werewolf (roller coaster)
The remaining worlds of Epic Universe — The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk — are not open during early park admission.
Currently, Universal Orlando offers early park admission as a perk for hotel guests one hour before the public at Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay. At both parks, only select attractions are open rather than the entire park.
Early park admission is available for guests staying at any of Universal’s 11 hotels (see full list below).
New Universal hotel categories
To anticipate Epic Universe guests, Universal Orlando debuted three new onsite hotels: Universal Helios Grand Hotel, Universal Stella Nova Resort, and Universal Terra Luna Resort.
With the introduction of these new properties, the overall Universal Orlando hotel options were recategorized, with Helios Grand sitting at the top in the Signature Collection.
Guests staying at hotels in all categories can continue to enjoy complimentary bus or boat transportation to the theme parks and early park admission.
The Signature Collection
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel ($$$$)
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel ($$$$)
- Hard Rock Hotel ($$$$)
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort ($$$$)
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort ($$$)
Universal describes the Signature Collection’s hotels as including “expansive, full-service amenities, exceptional dining, distinguished service, [and] immersive theming.”
Guests staying at hotels in Universal’s Signature Collection (except Sapphire Falls) receive Express Passes for Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure — granting front-of-line access to select attractions — included with their stay.
Prime Value Hotels
- Universal Aventura Hotel ($$)
- Universal Stella Nova Resort ($$)
- Universal Terra Luna Resort ($$)
Prime Value Hotels offer “a mix of services and amenities made for comfort and affordability,” according to Universal.
Value Inns and Suites
- Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort ($$)
- Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites ($)
- Universal Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites ($)
Universal says Value Inns and Suites are “the fun, affordable option offering rooms as well as spacious suites with kitchenettes.”
The three new categories went into effect in August 2024, replacing the four former groups: Premier, Preferred, Prime Value, and Value.
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You may want to update this article. As of now, guests at Sapphire Falls do not get free Express Passes.
Having come to the closest Universal signature hotel to the park straight from a Disney budget hotel (All Stars Music) the contrast is astonishing – In Disney the rooms were functional but incredibly well equipped whereas here they are more luxurious but lack basic essentials like bedside tables and power/usb sockets next to the bed, more than one short towel rail and a safe bigger than a paperback! Likewise, Disney’s 30 minutes early entry is useful as many of the attractions are open whereas in Universal almost the only thing you can do with your 60 minutes early entry is start to queue for Hagrid!
Granted some of the Universal rides are more thrilling but Disney are filling that gap in their repertoire with Tron, Star Wars, Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy. Going forward Universal need to take a harder look at how Disney deliver their quality customer experience as that is sadly lacking here.
All ticket holders can get into Celestial Park for early entry. They only check for hotel keys at the portals of the early entry lands.