CONFIRMED: A Popular Hotel Perk Is MISSING on the Opening Day of Epic Universe!

It’s the final countdown! We’re less than a month away from the official opening of Epic Universe in Orlando, although we’ve had the chance to step into the park early to become familiar with it ahead of time.

This way, we can help you prepare for your upcoming trip, and you’re not walking in blind! Currently, Universal Annual Passholders, 2025 Military Freedom Pass members, Universal VISA Cardmembers, and Universal hotel guests can enter the park early as part of previews, and hotel guests even get to experience Early Park Admission when the park opens fully. However, it’s looking like this perk WON’T be available on the park’s first official day of operation!

As of now, Universal Orlando’s calendar does not indicate that Early Park Admission will be available at Epic Universe on its opening day, May 22nd. Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay are the only parks showing Early Park Admission availability that day.

This means that no matter what hotel you’re staying at, no one will be able to use that hotel perk on opening day.

Thankfully, Early Park Admission returns to the calendar on May 23rd and beyond, so it appears to be a rule that only applies to opening day at this time. Could this be because Universal is expecting large crowds? Universal has been testing Early Park Admission during Epic Universe previews, but portals to lands like Dark Universe and Isle of Berk remain closed and only Celestial Park has been available for exploration and attraction use during Early Park Admission.

Early Park Admission allows Universal Orlando hotel guests and other groups to access the theme parks up to one hour before the park opens. Not all rides and lands are open for Early Park Admission, and the rules are subject to change, like we’re seeing at Epic Universe on opening day. That said, this is a great perk to take advantage of, as it can help you knock out some of your must-dos with lower wait times.