5 Things I'll Never Buy Again in Epic Universe

I’ve been to Epic Universe over a dozen times, and that means I’ve spent a lot of money in this park!

From snacks and meals to souvenirs and special experiences, I’ve made quite a few purchases in the past few months (Universal’s definitely getting its value out of me as a consumer 😅). But today, I’m here to tell you about the five things I won’t be buying again!

Refillable Coca-Cola Freestyle Cup

The refillable Coca-Cola Freestyle cups are one of our favorite Universal Orlando souvenirs. So WHY am I not buying it again?! Well, since I already own one, I’ll just bring mine back to the park and reactivate it for each future visit.

Coca-Cola machine at Oak and Star Tavern

These cups are $18.99 if you buy one initially, but they’re only $11.99 to “reactivate” for a day, whether that’s the very next day or a few years down the line. There are Coca-Cola Freestyle machines all around the park so you can get your money’s worth, and Epic Universe has three exclusive sodas you can try during your visit!

Now, you probably shouldn’t buy one of these cups initially if you’re not going to refill it at least four times throughout the day. That’s how you make sure it’s cost-effective! And if you have a group that’s comfortable with sharing, then it’s probably just a better idea to buy one cup instead of everyone getting their own.

For those whose groups aren’t comfortable with sharing (or if you all live in different houses and each wants their own to take home), you can get a discount by purchasing multiple cups at once. Purchasing two at a time is a $16.99 price tag per cup, and purchasing 3-6 at a time means that they’re $14.99 each.

Express Pass

This may be a hot take, but I probably won’t purchase Express Pass again for Epic Universe, at least not for a personal visit. Express Pass is pretty pricey for this park, ranging from $139.99 to $329.99 per person, per day. And even though it could cost more than your park ticket, it doesn’t include every ride!

In fact, Express Pass at Epic Universe does NOT include Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry or Mine-Cart Madness, which are often the two longest lines in the park. So you may save a good bit of time with this add-on, but you’ll still likely have to wait in two (possibly) multi-hour lines.

The other thing that’s important to note is that three of the Signature Collection Hotels (Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific) all include Express Pass with your booking for everyone in the hotel room. Unfortunately, this perk does not apply to Epic Universe right now. Fingers crossed that it’s offered in the future!

Physical Photo Souvenirs

If you’re coming to Epic Universe with your loved ones, you’re probably going to end up with some picture-perfect moments, but I wouldn’t buy the physical photo souvenirs. Instead, I’d just get the single-day or 3-day My Universal Photos package.

If you’re an Annual Passholder, you can get instead the photo package for the whole year. Or, for those who don’t want to spend the extra $$$, you can ask Team Members to take pictures of you and your group on someone’s phone — they’re usually very happy to help.

Hats

Personally, the thing I really need to stop buying in Epic Universe is HATS! There’s not a lot of shade in this park and I keep forgetting to bring my own hat when I visit. It’s to the point where I now own way too many Epic Universe-branded hats. (It’s a problem, you guys.)

Don’t be like me and be forced to buy one when it gets sunny — bring your own hat or umbrella, and definitely bring some sunscreen. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!

Power-Up Bands

And last but not least, I’ve got to mention one of the coolest souvenirs — the Power-Up Band. These wristbands are available to purchase for use in Super Nintendo World, and they’re $40 each. They’re designed to help you interact with the land, complete tasks, and collect coins…just like a Mario game!

These are a ton of fun if you’re a Nintendo fan, and I could spend all day wandering through the land and doing all the interactive features. (And I did — just check out my “trapped” in Super Nintendo World video!) Your kids especially will love these, and the good news is that you’ll only need to make the purchase once!

You can share one band with the whole family, and many of the games can even be played without the Power-Up Bands, though you won’t be able to keep track of your score. It can be a worthwhile purchase, but don’t be afraid to share and don’t forget to pack it in your bag for a return visit.

So there you have it, my list of all the things I wouldn’t buy again in Epic Universe. Keep following AllEars for more Epic Universe content and check out the video below to see some of my adventures in the park so far!