It has transform a commonplace development for Epic Universe to head from 1/10 crowd ranges adopted to 9/10 crowds on back-to-back days, with wait instances doubling in a single day. Common’s new park has nice days to consult with & terrible ones to steer clear of; this explains the massive variations and stocks an inventory of dates to focus on in overdue 2025 & 2026 to help in making plans upcoming journeys.
One of the vital issues we stay stressing is that Epic Universe’s opening season has been a wild trip. Common’s new park has had sky-high wait instances and crowd ranges, but in addition all-time low attendance and days with loads of walk-on strains and. There were some absolute operational meltdowns, in conjunction with bona fide ‘highest days ever.’
The excellent news is that we’ve been looking at carefully for the reason that tail finish of summer season, and an excessively transparent development has emerged. It’s no longer an anomaly or outlier at this level. There’s a pointy distinction in just right vs. dangerous dates to consult with Epic Universe, and this day by day swing in crowd ranges is shockingly commonplace and predictable.
As a caution prior to we get going, this doesn’t all the time paintings; climate and trip reliability stay wildcards. It’s worthwhile to set your self up for luck by way of opting for the most productive date, however nonetheless get unfortunate because of different variables.
Epic Universe’s opening yr has been a low capability and inpotency tale, and no longer certainly one of overwhelming call for. The park is hitting excessive crowd ranges with slightly low attendance. There’s doable for issues to get a lot worse if Epic Universe doesn’t in finding its footing on trip throughput.
We already know dates round Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New 12 months’s Eve have offered out or will promote out. There are likewise days within the subsequent couple of months which might be indifferent from vacations however nonetheless promoting out.
For example to underscore this day-to-day divergence, there have been two contemporary days that had 29 minute reasonable waits and 70 minute reasonable waits. To position those numbers into viewpoint, Walt Disney Global’s two busiest days since 2019 were 71 and 70 minute waits–each got here all over the weeks of New 12 months’s (early 2020 and overdue 2023).
At the identical dates that Epic Universe had 29 minute and 71 minute waits, Walt Disney Global’s reasonable wait instances have been 23 mins and 20 mins, respectively. To additional illustrate the divide, Walt Disney Global has noticed per month averages of round half-hour since summer season, while Epic Universe has been within the 55 to 63 minute vary. All of the ones numbers are averages, no longer peaks.
It’s additionally value noting that prior to Epic Universe had that 29 minute and 70 minute day by day unfold in wait instances, there was once a an identical lull. That’s the day I shared in My Very good Epic Universe Enjoy.
As mentioned there, I centered that day over two months prematurely became out to be the least-busy day at Epic Universe since opening weekend (up till that time–it was once since surpassed), with a 32 minute reasonable wait time and 1/10 crowd stage.
Extra just lately, Epic Universe had a 39 minute reasonable wait time and a pair of/10 crowd stage on November 9, 2025. This was once over what will have to were a hectic vacation weekend (and was once one at Walt Disney Global and the remainder of Common Orlando.)
The very subsequent day, that spiked to 71 mins and 9/10 crowd ranges. On Veterans Day, crowd ranges dropped once more. That’s now the 0.33 consecutive mid-tier vacation that has been much less busy than the day prior to it.
Level being, that is predictable–a minimum of, to some extent. If truth be told, maximum of what you’re going to learn right here we’ve already lined to a point in different posts. We’ve been constant in our recommendation, and in addition clear within the boundaries in our suggestions.
According to earlier Epic Universe crowd avoidance suggestions, we’ve gained reader pushback. It seems that, our recommendation does no longer align with that of different crowd calendar assets. As only one illustrative instance, right here’s what probably the most top-ranked Epic Universe recommends:
- Keep away from weekends (particularly Saturdays)
- Keep away from vacations (together with Hard work Day)
- For the least crowded days, consult with midweek (particularly Tuesday via Thursday)
I hate to name out different assets, as I’ve been unsuitable numerous instances, however those suggestions are–somewhat actually–the complete opposite of proper.
Right here’s a rundown of truth at Epic Universe:
- The 3 busiest days of the week at Epic Universe are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- Weekends are constantly the least busy two days of the week (particularly Sundays)
- Hard work Day was once the slowest day at Epic Universe since Might twenty fifth
- Mid-tier vacations are the largest exception to the above, and reason the day prior to them to be busier (even Sundays)
Those don’t seem to be new tendencies. We’ve been protecting them since mid-June when first publishing our Epic Universe Crowd Calendar. Even at that time, the primary two traits had began to emerge, and the underlying rationale was once logical and understandable for any person who understands larger image Florida visitor dynamics. Hard work Day hasn’t been a hectic vacation in years.
To this useful resource’s credit score, they did appropriately name summer season being busy. Predictions round Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New 12 months’s Eve being packed will likewise nearly indisputably pan out.
The issue is that many assets have predicated their predictions at the present theme parks in Central Florida, particularly Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey. That would possibly appear to be a proper means in the beginning blush and it does lead to correcting calling vacationer traits that revolve round college breaks. Nevertheless it misses so much.
The issue is that Epic Universe is a unconditionally other beast. It’s like modeling your zoo for genetically-engineered dinosaurs after a petting zoo for bunnies and child goats. You’ll get the straightforward stuff like enclosures and sidewalks proper. However we’ve all noticed that film and understand how it ends.
I’ve been extremely fortunate with Epic Universe, and feature had not anything however nice days. That is most probably a large a part of why I like Common Orlando’s 0.33 gate such a lot, as my reviews were unequivocally sure. To make certain, I’ve encountered some friction, however being versatile and temporarily pivoting when issues rise up has helped me steer clear of crisis on a number of events.
In spite of this, I’m fast to plug our rundown of Why You Will have to Skip Epic Universe. Our recommendation for almost all of visitors is to stick at the sidelines and wait till Epic Universe improves its operations and potency.
Amongst different issues, probably the most primary issues raised in that article is “Journey Breakdowns & Downtime.” This is still the overriding factor with Epic Universe, as the brand new park is still a veritable curler coaster of day-to-day downtime–and that’s mirrored in crowd ranges and reasonable wait instances.
I set myself up for luck by way of selecting an ideal day with my most up-to-date consult with to Epic Universe. I additionally were given very fortunate. The elements was once favorable because the rain held off, and except for two points of interest, there wasn’t a variety of downtime. This took a just right day of week variety and made it an ideal date.
Issues may’ve simply long gone the opposite path. It will’ve been a stormy day and extra rides may’ve had extended breakdowns, ballooning wait instances (and the full crowd stage) at the ones points of interest that have been operational. Day after today may’ve been smiled upon by way of the theme park climate and trip reliability gods, and ended up being higher regardless of the on paper stats as much as that time.
All of that is value underscoring as a result of you’ll do the entirety to set your self up for luck with Epic Universe–choosing the proper dates, leveraging the savviest technique, and so on–and also have a unfavourable enjoy because of the unpredictability of all of it. Such is the character of the beast with a brand new theme park.
As in the past famous, the 2 days of the week with the bottom reasonable wait instances over the previous couple of months were Saturdays (#2) and Sundays (#1, by way of a long way). Friday is third-lowest. The perfect reason behind that is that Epic Universe single-day tickets are costliest on weekends, so budget-conscious vacationers are in the hunt for out more cost effective dates.
There’s much less consistency for Mondays via Thursdays, and no longer sufficient knowledge issues to attract definitive conclusions. Statistically, Wednesdays and Thursdays were worst since opening. Extra just lately, we’ve noticed Tuesday emerge because the busiest day a number of weeks. This dynamic generally is a byproduct of visitors beginning out their weeks at Walt Disney Global, visiting a pair parks there, then doing Epic Universe. Or beginning out at Common’s legacy parks.
To that time, the remainder of Common Orlando is busiest on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, adopted by way of Sundays. That is fueled in large part by way of locals and Annual Passholders over the weekends, after which vacationers being maximum vulnerable to consult with on Mondays. Midweek is the best possible time to consult with the opposite parks, with reasonable wait instances bottoming out on Wednesdays.
This is sensible for the leisure of Common Orlando or Walt Disney Global! Floridians paintings on weekdays, making weekends their highest time to consult with the opposite parks for Annual Passholders.
There’s just one little drawback with extrapolating from this that the brand new park will observe a an identical trendline: Epic Universe doesn’t have Annual Passes! Epic Universe additionally does no longer have significant Florida resident price ticket offers, which might be any other sturdy motive force of weekend attendance at the remainder of Common Orlando and Walt Disney Global.
Many locals have already gotten their “repair” of Epic Universe and are looking ahead to Annual Passes or competitive price ticket offers. The outcome has been a an identical dynamic as we noticed at Walt Disney Global when AP gross sales have been suspended for see you later (it nonetheless exists to these days, however isn’t as exaggerated).
Something to notice is that once Annual Go gross sales or Florida resident price ticket offers get started for Epic Universe, this dynamic flips. Saturday and Sunday will transform the busiest days of the weekend. Additionally, there are exceptions to all the above when climate rears its unpleasant head. Not anything throws a monkey wrench into Epic Universe wait instances like a stormy day!
Easiest Dates to Seek advice from Epic Universe in Past due 2025
- November 15-16, 2025
- November 29-30, 2025*
- December 6-7, 2025
- December 13-14, 2025
November 29-30 is the bottom of Thanksgiving, which is all the time much less busy within the parks than folks be expecting. Vacationers arrive early and normally head house by way of the weekend after. Once more, I wouldn’t hunt down November twenty ninth if I have been a neighborhood or had flexibility, however November thirtieth will get the fairway gentle regardless.
Should you’re visiting all over our favourite week of the yr at Walt Disney Global, we might strongly suggest beginning at Epic Universe and doing that day if in any respect imaginable. It overrides WDW crowd suggestions.
The entire fascinating dates deeper into December 2026 are these days offered out, making the ones (clearly) unwanted.
If you have already got multi-day tickets for the ones date levels (or availability opens again up–as continuously occurs), the least-bad choices will have to be December 20-21, 2025. It will have to be a an identical tale with January 3-4, 2026.
Those don’t seem to be enthusiastic suggestions. They’re, as urged above, the ‘making lemonade out of lemons’ choices. I wouldn’t consult with Epic Universe on any of the ones dates, however that’s no longer useful if you have already got a shuttle deliberate.
Easiest Dates to Seek advice from Epic Universe in Early 2026
- January 10-11, 2026
- January 19, 2026*
- January 24-25, 2026
- January 31, 2026
- February 1, 2026
- February 7-8, 2026
- February 22, 2026
- February 28, 2026
- March 1, 2026
- March 7-8, 2026
- April 11-12, 2026
- April 18-19, 2026
- April 25-26, 2026
- Might 2-3, 2026
- Might 9-10, 2026
- Might 16-17, 2026
The asterisked date in January 2026 is the bottom of the MLK Day vacation weekend. This taking part in with hearth to some extent, however we have now first rate knowledge suggesting that this Monday can be higher than the Sunday prior to it.
Epic Universe’s underperformance on contemporary vacation weekends reinforces this. I wouldn’t plan a consult with round this recommendation if I have been a neighborhood, but when I have been already heading down for those dates and wanted to pick out inside of this vary, the ones are the dates I’d make a selection.
Typically, those suggestions transform decrease self assurance the additional out we move. There are such a large amount of shifting portions in the case of Epic Universe that predicting crowd ranges could be very tough. Specifically, Epic Universe goes to have park hopping and no more restrictive ticketing regulations beginning in 2026. This will have to no longer materially have an effect on day of the week traits (which, once more, are pushed by way of locals), however it will! We’re in unparalleled territory.
Any other factor that makes me particularly weary about Iciness 2026 is this has transform an an increasing number of fashionable time to consult with for theme park enthusiasts, with crowds and occupancy from January via March expanding at each Walt Disney Global and Common expanding in recent times.
On height of that, we’ve heard from many readers who’re “ready out” the outlet yr crowds and concentrated on their first visits in Iciness 2026. Anecdotes are patently no longer knowledge, however it’s extremely commonplace for primary new theme park additions to have this sort of dynamic–an preliminary lull because of fears of crowds, adopted by way of an inflow of call for. If the outlet season wait instances of Epic Universe do change into a “lull” (attendance has no longer been excessive relative to theoretical capability), we’re in for a global of harm in 2026!
As for the times to steer clear of, in truth, the remainder of them is what I’m maximum vulnerable to mention. But when, for no matter explanation why, I completely couldn’t do Epic Universe on a weekend, I’d be vulnerable to head Friday. If that weren’t imaginable, Monday is the date I’d make a selection.
Simply to reiterate once more, Wednesdays and Thursdays are the worst days to consult with. That is statistically talking, because of this we’re smoothing knowledge out over an extended length. In having a look extra carefully, midweek is in all places. There were stretches just lately when Tuesday is worse than the 2 days that observe, and it seems that to be “catching up” to Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The object is, you aren’t visiting on a statistical reasonable of all weeks. You’re visiting on a real date, in the actual global. So if I needed to do a Tuesday via Thursday for no matter explanation why, I’d wait till absolutely the ultimate minute to come to a decision after which come to a decision at the foundation of the elements forecast, minimizing my publicity to rain (even supposing a just right early afternoon downpour works wonders at clearing out Epic Universe–shockingly so).
Truthfully regardless that, I simply wouldn’t consult with midweek. I’m simplest occurring Sundays from right here on out till APs move on sale or competitive Florida resident price ticket offers roll out. From my viewpoint, the park has too many issues to consult with on a non-weekend. To every their very own on that, regardless that.
Taking a look additional into the long run, if making plans a shuttle later in 2026 or 2027, I’d goal all the identical dates on our Easiest & Worst Weeks to Seek advice from Walt Disney Global in 2025 & 2026. That’s a mixture of quantitative and qualitative, and the latter arguably issues extra at Epic Universe than Walt Disney Global.
Use that highest & worst weeks recommendation to focus on timeframes on your Walt Disney Global and/or Common Orlando holiday, after which use the above day of week suggestions to slender your consult with dates to Epic Universe.
We’d strongly suggest prioritizing Epic Universe when opting for which park to consult with. It will have to be the overriding issue, as there’s way more variance for Epic Universe than some other park at both lodge.
As discussed above, timeframes to focus on come with the week after Thanksgiving, mid-January, prior to wintry weather ruin, early spring, and post-Easter 2026 are all interesting. Mainly, the dates with the absolute best chance of lowest attendance and highest climate.
Whilst I’m making plans extra solo analysis journeys to Epic Universe during the yr, our giant circle of relatives holiday will occur in January or February. Climate is the deciding issue for us–however my gentle worry with dates deeper into subsequent yr is the greater chance of Annual Passes or Florida resident price ticket offers, which might exacerbate crowd problems dramatically.
Want shuttle making plans pointers and complete recommendation on your consult with to Central Florida? Be sure to learn our Common Orlando Making plans Information for the entirety about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney Global Holiday Making plans Information for the entirety about the ones parks, inns, eating places, and so a lot more. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and a lot more, join our FREE e mail publication!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe since summer season ended? What did you recall to mind wait instances and crowds? Enjoy any operational meltdowns because of breakdowns or climate? Is it imaginable or possible that Epic Universe if truth be told has even crowds this vacation season, or during subsequent yr as soon as park hopping is authorized and consult with restrictions are got rid of? Will you consult with Epic Universe in 2026, or will you look forward to crowds to calm down (in principle)? Agree or disagree with our overview? Any questions? We adore listening to from readers, so please percentage some other ideas or questions you’ve gotten within the feedback underneath!
