A Word of Warning About the NEW Hotel Perk at Epic Universe

Universal’s Epic Universe is bringing a brand-new hotel perk, but it might not be as perfect as it sounds!

The highly anticipated Helios Grand Hotel will have its own private entrance to Epic Universe, which sounds like a dream come true for hotel guests. But there’s a catch: This entrance is located on the complete opposite side of the park from the main entrance. Let’s break down exactly what this means for your park experience if you’re planning on staying at the Helios Grand.

Getting a special entrance to a theme park is almost always a win, and the Helios Grand Hotel’s dedicated entrance will undoubtedly make entering Epic Universe a breeze. Guests won’t have to deal with the crowds at the main gate, and they’ll get direct access to some of the most immersive lands in the park.

But location matters, and this could have an impact on your park touring strategy. Let’s talk about some of the major attractions at Epic Universe and how this entrance location could impact your experience.

You’ll Be FAR Away From These Rides

As we were saying, if you’re staying at the Helios Grand and eager to jump into Super Nintendo World first thing in the morning, brace yourself. That private entrance puts you on the opposite end of the park from Yoshi’s Adventure, Mine-Cart Madness, and Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. These rides will be some of the biggest draws of the entire park, and getting to them will take some extra time.

The same goes for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders over in the How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk area. If you want to rope-drop this ride, you’ll have to book it across the park from the Helios entrance, while guests coming from the main entrance will already be much closer.

And while the entrance does lead into Celestial Park, you’ll be far from the front end of the land, meaning you might not have the best positioning if you want to prioritize attractions there.

But You’ll Be CLOSE to These Lands

On the flip side, guests using the Helios Grand entrance will have prime access to two of the most highly themed areas in Epic Universe. The Dark Universe—home to Universal Monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein—will be right at your doorstep. Expect atmospheric horror and a spooky start to your park day.

Right next to The Dark Universe, you’ll find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. This is bound to be one of the most immersive and popular lands in Epic Universe, so getting in before the main crowds arrive could be a huge perk for Potterheads.

Security Could Be an Issue

Another thing to consider is that security lines at hotel-exclusive entrances can sometimes get backed up, especially during peak times. We don’t yet know exactly how this will play out at Epic Universe, but if it’s anything like the existing resort entrances at Universal Orlando, guests could experience longer than anticipated wait times before even getting into the park. It’s something to keep in mind if you’re trying to maximize every minute of your day.

How to Plan Accordingly

If you’re staying at the Helios Grand, you’ll want to strategize your day carefully. Here are some key takeaways:

• • If your goal is to hit Super Nintendo World or How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk early, be prepared for a long trek across the park.
  • Take advantage of your proximity to The Dark Universe and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic by knocking those out first before heading to other areas.
  • Consider using any available Universal Express Pass to minimize wait times once you reach the rides that are farther away.
  • Keep an eye on potential security wait times at the Helios Grand entrance, especially during peak hours.

At the end of the day, having a private entrance is still a major perk – it just comes with a few logistical challenges. If you go in prepared, you’ll be able to make the most of your time at Epic Universe, no matter which entrance you use.

And in the meantime, continue to follow us here at AllEars for more Epic Universe news!

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

We Just Went to Epic Universe for the First Time. Here Are 5 Things That Caught Us Off Guard.

What do you think of this new hotel perk? Would you prefer the convenience of a private entrance, even if it means extra walking? Let us know in the comments below!

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