Epic Universe’s opening yr has been a wild journey. Common Orlando’s new park has ping-ponged between low and sky-high crowd ranges, with astronomical wait occasions which might be worse than New Yr’s Eve at Walt Disney Global. This takes a take a look at records for the ultimate couple of weeks, which were particularly tough for Epic Universe.
For starters, this comes all through the preferred fall ruin length at Common Orlando. It thus shouldn’t come as an enormous marvel that Epic Universe is busy, as we already reported that Walt Disney Global’s Worst Crowds Since Easter Are Right here.
Attendance traits are related at each Common Orlando and Walt Disney Global, with Epic Universe being the colossal caveat to that more often than not, no less than in the case of crowd dynamics with Floridians and Annual Passholders. However the ones don’t seem to be the problem presently, as Fall Smash crowds are fueled through non-local vacationers.
It’s been virtually precisely 4 months since we shared our initial 2025 Epic Universe Crowd Calendar, which introduced a forward-looking forecast and a recap of then-current crowds. At the big-picture predictions entrance, that holds up shockingly smartly.
Clearly, there’s a large number of further wait occasions records since then to proportion (courtesy of thrill-data). By way of and massive, crowds have simplest worsened since then. Epic Universe has had a number of record-setting days and weeks since, first breaking the 80 minute wait time barrier on July 16, when reasonable wait occasions have been 85 mins and the group stage was once 10/10. That was once adopted through back-to-back 80 minute days August 6-7.
As at all times, remember that those are averages. Wait occasions have a tendency to be even upper noon, however decrease very first thing within the morning or night. Some points of interest are averaging waits which might be over 2 hours, however that’s offset through a couple of people-eaters or much less fashionable points of interest which might be underneath half-hour. All advised, Epic Universe has 5 rides plus one meet & greet averaging wait occasions over an hour this month. 3 of the ones are in triple-digit territory.
The times with averages over 70 or 80 mins are notable as a result of no different Common or Disney theme park has had an 80+ minute day since no less than 2019 and there were only a few 70+ minute days. In the meantime at Epic Universe, there were many days at or above 70 mins–breaking that barrier was once a horny commonplace prevalence that came about a couple of occasions a week sooner than colleges went again into consultation.
Past due June was once the beginning of a stretch when weekly averages have been 64-68 mins for six consecutive weeks; with all however one week within the 64-66 minute vary. For a park this is so inconsistent on a daily foundation, that was once remarkably constant on a weekly one.
The led to mid-August, when weekly averages dropped to “simplest” 51-59 mins between then and mid-September. From the second one part of that month thru early October, weekly averages as soon as once more have been 61-62 mins. All of the whilst, day by day averages have been all over, starting from lows of 29-32 mins (together with the day of My Very good Epic Universe Revel in) to highs above 70 mins. Now not simplest are the highs upper at Epic Universe, however the vary could also be wider than another theme park at Common or Disney.
Rapid-forward to October 2025, and the ultimate two weeks that simply ended on Sunday were the worst ever at Epic Universe. (So far, this week isn’t relatively as busy, which is as anticipated for the reason that top of Fall Smash is now in the back of us.)
Now clearly, this park isn’t even 6 months outdated, so “worst ever” would possibly appear to be hyperbole. Till you take a look at the numbers. The weekly averages have been 72 and 73 mins, respectively, over the process the ultimate two weeks.
This covers a day by day vary of 58 mins to 86 mins (two times), the latter of which is any other new checklist for Epic Universe. The park has damaged the 80 minute barrier thrice to this point this month: October 7, 12, and 14.
It’s price noting that no different Common Orlando or Walt Disney Global park is hitting reasonable day by day wait occasions at anyplace close to the ones ranges.
Islands of Journey was once the busier of the 2 legacy gates at Common Orlando during the last two weeks. Its reasonable weekly wait occasions have been 37 and 36 mins. The busiest park at Walt Disney Global was once Hollywood Studios, which had weekly averages of 42 and 43 mins.
It’s now not like both of those parks have been useless, both! The ones have been their busiest weeks since Easter! Earlier than Fall Smash began, the weekly averages at DHS were below half-hour since past due August. Islands of Journey had 18-21 minute weekly low season averages till spiking for Fall Smash.
To additional put those numbers into standpoint, it’s additionally price noting that Walt Disney Global’s two busiest days since 2019 were 71 and 70 minute waits–each got here all through the weeks of New Yr’s (early 2020 and past due 2023–pictured above are screenshots of the worst wait occasions, now not averages, from a kind of days).
As we’ve said numerous occasions sooner than, the excessive wait occasions at Epic Universe are most commonly a capability and potency tale, and now not one in all overwhelming call for. The park is hitting those crowd ranges (that are if truth be told wait time ranges) with quite low attendance. There’s possible for those wait occasions to get a lot worse if Epic Universe doesn’t to find its footing on journey throughput.
Despite the fact that you’ll to find ‘scorching spots’ of heavy crowds and congestion in Tremendous Nintendo Global, Celestial Park and different spaces of Epic Universe don’t really feel or glance busy, even on those 70+ minute days. In order that’s one certain. Some other is that Epic Universe shouldn’t need to deal with hurricane season for for much longer, and potency must proceed to reinforce.
Regardless, our expectation is that the worst crowds of 2025 at Epic Universe are nonetheless to return. Fall Smash has been the busiest 2 week stretch ever…up to now. There’s no less than another 2-week stretch that may virtually veritably be worse, with a number of extra unmarried weeks that carry crimson flags.
You may recall that virtually a yr sooner than Epic Universe even opened, we wrote about the potential of a “crowdpocalypse” situation, with October thru December being a lot busier than the primary few months because of visitors averting the hole season below the (inaccurate) assumption that it might be busier. They’d “wait out” the preliminary rush and early hiccups…simplest to all descend at the park all through a busier time-frame.
Given the loopy crowds (or no less than, loopy wait occasions) at Epic Universe over the summer time, this would possibly sound like a take that elderly poorly. Then again, it’s exactly what we’ve noticed play out many times with main new theme park openings.
It came about with each Walt Disney Global and Disneyland with Superstar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, in addition to Delusion Springs at Tokyo DisneySea. In all 3 circumstances, crowds materialized beginning round October after slower summers.
Walt Disney Global and Disneyland went from being useless to slammed, and that didn’t alternate till the parks closed in March 2020 because of COVID. In relation to all 3, seasonality comes into play. The ones lands debuted all through the summer time or early fall low season, and Disney (incorrectly) guess that the trap of the lands can be sufficient to conquer commonplace attendance patterns. They weren’t.
Onerous because it could be to consider given the wait occasions the park has been posting, however it stays my trust that it’s going to be a identical dynamic with Epic Universe. Summer time is now not top season for Florida theme parks, and hasn’t been for some time. Whilst there was once the preliminary new park fanfare, there have been additionally quite a lot of humans suspending visits for that exact same explanation why.
All of that is to mention that Epic Universe may see a identical tailwind from October thru December 2025.
That’s a well-liked time for vacationers touring to Central Florida, and Epic Universe will unquestionably seize guests making their annual pilgrimages to Walt Disney Global. Erroneously anticipating decrease crowds, plus higher climate (expectantly) and extra seasonal choices, lots of the ones visitors have most likely been ready to discuss with Epic Universe till their commonplace fall and vacation season journeys.
I’d take this a step additional and expect that Epic Universe attendance might be upper from January 2026 thru Easter 2026, too. Price tag insurance policies alternate in 2026, with restrictions for normal tickets being got rid of. This may permit visitors with multi-day tickets to spend a disproportionate period of time at Epic Universe, and we’d be expecting precisely that to occur.
(This price tag coverage adjustments are a combined bag. They’re welcome and guest-friendly adjustments that almost certainly want to occur at this level. On the identical time, they’ve been useful guardrails at fighting even worse wait time woes at Epic Universe.)
In different phrases, there might be visitors who waited out the preliminary rush visiting. Others may have waited for higher climate after finding out about Epic Universe’s loss of colour and problems dealing with warmth and Florida climate.
Iciness is changing into an more and more fashionable of time for vacationers, particularly widespread guests to Orlando, and shall we see the primary few months of the yr being “strangely” busy at Epic Universe consequently. That’s doubly true given the at ease ticketing laws, which might lead to extra Park Hopping to Epic Universe, or perhaps a identical pool of visitors spending extra time at Epic Universe. (It wouldn’t marvel me if Epic Universe will get busier on the expense of USF and IoA.)
Some other factor that’s price noting is that there have already been a number of dates when single-day tickets have offered out for Epic Universe for the following 3 months. Then again, some of these–excluding Christmas week thru New Yr’s Eve–stay coming again in inventory. It’s our sturdy suspicion that that is the results of Common reallocating tickets amongst admission varieties (from multi-day, which doesn’t promote as smartly, to single-day).
The largest wildcard about crowds for the vacation season is phrase of mouth about Epic Universe.
There were a large number of lawsuits concerning the days with important downtime because of downpours and journey breakdowns. Even diehard Common fan communities have soured fairly on Epic Universe, and now suggest ready out the crowds. It’s inconceivable to inform how a lot that is “breaking containment” and attaining audiences past theme park lovers, even though.
Most people would possibly simplest be seeing the rave critiques of the very good Epic Universe journey roster and planning to discuss with “after the hole rush” of the approaching vacation season or early 2026.
The hot button is that I extremely doubt Fall Smash will finally end up being the 2 busiest weeks “ever” at Epic Universe as soon as 2025 is over. Truthfully, I wouldn’t be stunned if neither of those weeks finally end up being best 5.
I additionally wouldn’t be stunned if Epic Universe smashes thru that latest 86 minute checklist day by day reasonable wait time, breaking the 100 minute barrier between Christmas and New Yr’s Eve. In different phrases, presently would possibly appear unhealthy…however it may possibly and can worsen!
The excellent news is that it’ll additionally recover! Fall Smash has been unhealthy, as have a number of different weeks since opening. However there have additionally been wallet of decrease crowd dates since opening, together with a number of good-to-great days within the ultimate couple of months. Even if we absolutely be expecting October, November, and December to rank because the #3, #2, and #1 busiest months of the yr at Epic Universe, there might be quieter days amidst the ocean of crimson.
If making plans a past due 2025 or 2026 commute, I’d goal the entire identical dates on our Best possible & Worst Weeks to Talk over with Walt Disney Global in 2025, 2026 & 2027. That’s a mixture of quantitative and qualitative, and I’d argue that the latter issues extra at Epic Universe than Walt Disney Global. Regardless, nice success–you’re going to want it.
Want commute making plans pointers and complete recommendation to your discuss with to Central Florida? Make sure you 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, hotels, eating places, and so a lot more.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe within the ultimate two weeks? What did you recall to mind wait occasions and crowds? Revel in any operational meltdowns because of breakdowns or climate? Is it conceivable or possible that Epic Universe has even worse wait occasions from now thru December 2025, or all through 2026? Will you discuss with Epic Universe this yr, or will you stay up for crowds to relax (in idea) in 2026? Agree or disagree with our evaluate? Any questions? We like listening to from readers, so please proportion another ideas or questions you might have within the feedback underneath!
