Here Are 2 of the Absolute Worst Things About Epic Universe From a Gal Who Actually LOVES Going There

Epic Universe has been open long enough now that we’re past the “brand-new theme park glow” phase and into the “okay, but how does this actually work when real humans are inside it?” phase.

And here’s the thing: I still LOVE this park.

Universal’s Epic Universe officially opened on May 22nd, 2025, bringing five themed worlds and more than 50 experiences to Universal Orlando Resort. So, yes, it is huge. Yes, it is impressive. Yes, walking through those portals still feels like theme park theater with a fog machine budget.

But loving something does not mean pretending it is flawless. I love a lot of things that test me. Theme parks. Mobile ordering. My decision to wear denim shorts in Florida humidity.

So, after spending time in Epic Universe, there are two things that still stand out as the biggest downsides.

The Waits Mostly Move Around. Donkey Kong and Toothless Do Not.

The good news? Not every line in Epic Universe is terrible all day. That’s actually one of the biggest 2026 takeaways. Some waits fluctuate a LOT. You might see a wait time that looks terrifying in the morning, only to check back later and wonder if everyone in the park collectively wandered into Toadstool Cafe and forgot rides exist. Some attractions get manageable windows. Some lines soften during meals, rain, shows, or later park hours. Some waits are less “theme park tragedy” and more “okay, fine, I can stand here and rethink my sunscreen choices.”

But then there are the stubborn ones. We’re looking at you, Mine-Cart Madness and the Toothless meet-and-greet.

Donkey Kong’s Mine-Cart Madness is still one of those attractions that can hang onto a beefy wait like it signed a lease. It makes sense, honestly. It’s in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, it’s extremely visible, it has the Donkey Kong name attached to it, and it has that whole “wait, did the track just disappear?” gimmick that makes people stop in their Crocs and stare. Universal’s safety guide lists Mine-Cart Madness with a 40-inch minimum height requirement, which also puts it in that very dangerous theme park category of “thrilling enough for adults, accessible enough for a lot of kids, therefore doomed to be popular forever.”

Third-party wait tracking has also shown Mine-Cart Madness averaging well over an hour across multiple months, which matches the in-park reality: this is not usually the kind of ride you casually save for “whenever.” “Whenever” is how you end up staring at a posted wait time and whispering something unprintable into your refillable cup.

Then there’s Toothless.

Meeting Toothless sounds simple. Precious, even. You go to Isle of Berk, meet a dragon, melt into a puddle, recover emotionally, and continue your day.

Nope. This is not just a character meet-and-greet. This is a full-blown pilgrimage for every person who has ever watched How to Train Your Dragon and thought, “Yes, I too would risk my whole village for this large midnight cat-bat.” Toothless and friends meet throughout the day at Haddock Paddock, but “throughout the day” does not mean “walk-up, no problem, done in five minutes.”

The line can be a beast because character meet-and-greets are not high-capacity experiences. A coaster can eat through riders. A dragon meet-and-greet has to handle photos, interactions, small children losing their minds, adults pretending they are not also losing their minds, and everyone trying to get the perfect shot.

So yes, Epic Universe wait times can fluctuate. But if Mine-Cart Madness or Toothless are must-dos for your group, treat them like actual priorities, not cute little “we’ll get there eventually” extras.

Check the Universal Orlando app constantly. Build your day around them if they are non-negotiable. Be willing to pounce when a wait drops. And if you see a decent wait for either one, do not wander off to “just grab something real quick” unless you are emotionally prepared to return to chaos

This Universal Orlando Hack Has Saved Me HOURS in the Parks.

It’s Still Not Super Toddler and Baby-Friendly

This one hasn’t changed much. Epic Universe has a lot for families. It has gorgeous lands. It has shows. It has characters. It has interactive areas. It has the kind of theming that can make a kid’s eyes go saucer-wide before you’ve even done anything.

But if you’re visiting with babies, toddlers, or very small kids, you need to go in with realistic expectations.

This is not a park where tiny humans can ride everything while the adults blissfully rotate snacks and stroller parking. A lot of the headline attractions have height requirements, and several of them are built more for bigger kids, teens, and adults.

Some minimum height requirements to be aware of:

No Height Requirement, though kids under 48 inches need a supervising companion:

• Constellation Carousel
• Fyre Drill

34 Inch Minimum:

• Yoshi’s Adventure 

40 Inch Minimum:

• Mine-Cart Madness
• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
• Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
• Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
• Curse of the Werewolf 

48 Inch Minimum:

• Stardust Racers
• Monsters Unchained
• Dragon Racer’s Rally

That means a toddler can absolutely have fun here, but they may also spend a lot of the day watching other people ride things.

There are some wins. Astronomica is an interactive children’s play area with water elements, lights, and music. Constellation Carousel is a beautiful, strange little cosmic spin through Celestial Park. Fyre Drill gives kids the chance to soak people with water cannons, which is basically toddler diplomacy at its finest. The Untrainable Dragon and Le Cirque Arcanus are good show options when everyone needs to sit down and stop being vertical for a minute.

And Isle of Berk? Visually, it is a dream for kids. Dragons overhead, Viking details everywhere, Toothless nearby, chaos in the best way. But again, looking at a dragon land and actually being able to do everything in a dragon land are two different vacation realities.

If you’re bringing toddlers or babies, plan this park differently. Bring the stroller. Bring extra clothes if water play is on the agenda. Use Child Swap when the adults want to ride. Build in shade breaks. Do not make your entire day depend on your smallest traveler waiting patiently through long lines, because toddlers are not known for their commitment to themed entertainment logistics.

They are known for snacks, naps, and suddenly deciding that the floor is their home now.

So…Is Epic Universe Still Worth It?

Absolutely. Epic Universe is still one of the most exciting theme parks in Orlando. It is beautiful, weird, ambitious, and packed with the kind of details that make you slow down and actually look around. That alone is a victory in a world where many of us spend park days speed-walking between reservations like we’re competing in the Snack Olympics.

But in 2026, the advice is sharper. Do not assume every line will be bad all day. Some waits really do move. Some attractions get surprisingly reasonable. But do not underestimate the two big sticky spots: Mine-Cart Madness and Toothless. Those can still eat a serious chunk of your day if you don’t plan around them.

And if you’re visiting with babies or toddlers, Epic Universe can be wonderful, but it is not the easiest park for that age group. There are things for them to enjoy, but the balance leans older than some families may expect.

So go. Have fun. Walk through the portals. Eat something ridiculous. Meet a dragon if you have the patience and the emotional fortitude. Just don’t pretend this park won’t make you earn a few of its best moments.

We’ll keep watching Epic Universe closely as the park continues to evolve, so stay tuned to AllEars for more updates, tips, and hard-earned theme park wisdom from people who spend way too much time thinking about wait times, snack strategy, and whether we can justify one more trip through a portal.

Is Epic Universe a Family-Friendly Park?

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

Is there anything at Epic Universe that’s underwhelmed you so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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