We dug into the data on the wait times at Epic Universe since the park opened last month
Universal’s Epic Universe stormed into the theme park scene with massive anticipation—and the crowds to match. Since opening its gates on May 22, 2025, the newest Orlando theme park has seen a steady rise in wait times across its marquee attractions. But what do the numbers actually say? Let’s take a closer look at the data from Thrill-Data.com, which tracks real-time queue metrics across parks worldwide.
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🗓️ Overall Trends Since Opening
- Opening Day Average Wait (May 22): 48 minutes
- Peak Average Wait (June 2): 63 minutes
- Current Running Park Average: ~58 minutes
- Busiest Time of Day: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
- Best Time to Ride: Before 10:30 AM or after 6:30 PM
The park hit a new high on June 2, with park-wide average wait times topping out at 63 minutes—the second-highest recorded day so far. In general, wait times are on an upward trend as summer vacation crowds roll in and word-of-mouth buzz spreads.
🎢 Breakdown by Attraction
Hiccups Winged Gliders (Isle of Berk)
- Average Wait: 45–60 minutes
- Peak Wait Observed: 180 minutes
- Trend: Steady; extremely popular with families and dragon lovers alike. Wait times spike mid-morning. If you do not have early park entry as an option, head to Berk first!
Mine-Cart Madness (Super Nintendo World)
- Average Wait: 60–80 minutes
- Peak Wait: 240 minutes
- Low Wait: 15–20 minutes (early morning only)
- Trend: Very volatile. Weekends and mid-day waits easily top 2 hours.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Average Wait: 55–65 minutes
- Peak Wait: 150+ minutes
- Trend: Surprisingly stable considering the ride’s popularity and capacity.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
- Average Wait: 90–120 minutes
- Peak Wait: 305 minutes
- Low Wait: Rarely below 45 minutes
- Trend: This is the park’s current king of queues. Weekends are brutal, and ride down times are not helping these averages.
Stardust Racers (Celestial Park)
- Average Wait: 30–45 minutes
- Peak Wait: 150 minutes
- Trend: Very responsive to time of day. Early morning is ideal; lines build fast by noon. The dueling coaster aspect allows for an impressive capacity which helps keep wait times generally low.
Constellation Carousel
- Average Wait: 10–20 minutes
- Peak Wait: 35 minutes
- Trend: Consistently low and a great break for families and young kids.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
- Average Wait: 20–35 minutes
- Peak Wait: 75 minutes
- Trend: Popular, but not unmanageable. Queue dips significantly after dark.
📊 Key Observations
- Opening Week vs. Current Week: Average wait times have jumped roughly 20–25% since opening day.
- Attraction Type Matters: Dark rides and interactive coasters consistently pull the highest numbers (Ministry of Magic, Mine-Cart Madness).
- Time of Day: Early birds are winning big—first two hours of park operation show dramatically shorter waits across the board.
- Weather Factor: Rainy days have not seen significant drops in wait times, as many of Epic Universe’s headliners are indoor or partially covered.
🧠 Tips for Beating the Lines
- Arrive before official park open and head straight for either Ministry of Magic or Donkey Kong to avoid the longest queues.
- Monitor wait time trends via the Universal Orlando app or Thrill-Data.com, especially for rides like Stardust Racers and Mario Kart which spike midday.
- If possible, visit midweek—Tuesdays and Wednesdays currently trend about 15% lower in average waits than weekends.
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