After I left Universal Epic Universe for the first time, I found out that I MISSED some key things!

The park is pretty massive, and there are five different themed portals to explore, so it makes sense that it’s a challenge (a near-impossible one) to get everything done in one day. And for many of our team members, we discovered that we’d missed out on some fun experiences at Epic Universe after we’d already left. We’re sharing our list with you so you don’t make the same mistakes!

You May Not Need a Power-Up Band to Play

When you visit Super Nintendo World, you’ll see Power-Up Bands EVERYWHERE. They’re wristbands that can be used to play the interactive games around the land, and they can even link to the Universal Orlando app to keep track of your scores and achievements. Honestly, they’re a lot of fun! But you may not need one to enjoy all the interactive features.

For example, the walk-through tunnel where you run into the Bob-Ombs doesn’t require you to have a Power-Up Band. You can experience being a Mini Mario without it! And if you want to go play the Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown, only ONE person needs a Power-Up Band. You have to complete three missions to go inside, but if your friend has a band and has hit that landmark, then you can join them.

 Learn More About Super Nintendo World Here!

Some Merch Is Portal-Exclusive

You may think that you can just save all your shopping for the end of the day and grab that super-cool souvenir you saw at the shops in Celestial Park, but you should know before you leave that some merchandise is portal-exclusive. And unfortunately, once it’s closing time, they shut the entrances to the portals, and you can’t go back into one you visited earlier.

Spots where you’re likely to see portal-exclusive merchandise include the gift shops at ride exits or any specialty stores, like sweets shops and places that sell collectibles. If you see something and you really want it, get it RIGHT THEN. And if you don’t want to carry the bags around, you’ve got a few options. At many stores, you can pay to ship your merchandise to your home or your Universal Orlando hotel. You could also rent a locker in the park to hold your bags until the end of the day.

Click Here to See One of the Coolest Souvenirs in Epic Universe

The Celestial Park Shops Stay Open Late

Remember how I just said not to save all your shopping until the end of the day? Well, don’t save all of it, but you can save your Celestial Park shopping until the end of the day. The merchandise stores at the front entrance of Epic Universe in Celestial Park typically stay open an hour after the park closes to let you do some perusing after hours.

Here, you’ll find more generic park merchandise, with each portal represented in some way. This is also a great spot to stop for sweets or cliché souvenirs like keychains, t-shirts, plushes, and more. They’ve got all the basics, so if you’re not particular about what you want to buy, shopping at one of these stores should do the trick.

See the Epic Universe Collection on Amazon Here!

There’s a Hidden Spell in the Wizarding World

One of the best parts about visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is doing a bit of magic! We’ve loved wandering the Ministry of Magic and trying out all the new spells in the land, but if you’re following the map, you might miss one. There’s a HIDDEN spell in the window next to Bar Moonshine that most people don’t know about.

The window doesn’t have a golden indicator on the ground like the other spell locations do, and it’s not listed on the map, but if you point your wand and cast “Revelio” (that’s with a wand motion shaped like a capital ‘R’), you can make a Demiguise appear! Do this spell for your family and friends, and they’ll think you’re ACTUALLY magical.

See Our Food Reviews From the Wizarding World Here!

Dark Universe Is Better…After Dark

Dark Universe was perhaps the most highly anticipated land in Epic Universe, and it is, in a word, EPIC. The theming really feels like you’re walking through some of the Universal Monster tales, and the experiences offered are eerie to match. But if you’re visiting this land during the daytime, you really need to make a point to come back at night. 

There are quite a few special effects in Dark Universe that are just MUCH better after the sun goes down. From lightning to fog to the well glowing red to flashing lights in the manor windows, you’ll uncover so much more of the story once it’s dark outside. Trust us, this is a must-do.

A Definitive Ranking of Everything To Do in Dark Universe

There Are Exclusive Coca-Cola Beverages!

If you’re a fan of Universal’s refillable mug program, buckle up! Refillable Coca-Cola Freestyle mugs are back in Epic Universe, and they’re even BETTER than the other parks because of one thing…exclusive sodas.

Celestial Park, How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe all have exclusive sodas that you can only try in those lands. The three flavors are called Celestial Spritz, Dragon Splash, and Screaming Berry. This was honestly just a super fun surprise, and it was a blast to try them all!

Get All the Refillable Mug Details Here!

How to Come Back ASAP

Of course, the big thing I wanted to know before I’d even left the park was how to come back as soon as possible! Even though I had a great day, I felt like I could’ve spent hours more exploring every nook and cranny of this incredible new space. If you want to visit in 2026, you can purchase single-day tickets to Epic Universe or do a multi-day ticket with a Park-to-Park option added on.

Also, based on a recent survey, it seems that Universal is considering annual pass options for Epic Universe. There were a few different variations presented in the survey, but we’ve got our fingers crossed for that news!

Ultimately, I had a spectacular time on my first visit to Epic Universe, and now I know SO much better than I did the first time. Use these tricks and be a pro!

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The Best Things to Eat in Epic Universe (From Someone Who Reviews Theme Park Food for a Living)

Have you been to Epic Universe? Tell us in the comments!