I went to Universal’s newest theme park, Epic Universe, and it really does feel like stepping into a tour of some of the company’s biggest, most beloved worlds. Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Celestial Park, the Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe each have their own distinct personality, and every attraction tries to pull you deeper into that universe, whether I was flying a dragon, dodging monsters, or chasing pure Nintendo nostalgia. As a thrill-seeking mom who just visited, here’s how I’d rank the best rides at Epic Universe, including the one I’d personally skip.
My Personal Skip: Constellation Carousel
I don’t have anything against Constellation Carousel. It’s pretty, gentle, and perfectly pleasant. But when I’m looking at the full lineup of Epic Universe rides, I can ride a carousel in plenty of other places, while so many of the other attractions feel specific to this park. That said, if I needed a calmer, shady moment to catch my breath — and shade comes at a premium at Epic Universe — I’d absolutely consider it a useful reset.
10. Fyre Drill
I have a lot of sensory icks, so the heavy chlorine smell and wet-clothes feeling that come with water rides usually make me want to pass. But Florida theme park heat can change a person. Fyre Drill ended up feeling like a really original attraction: I boarded a Viking ship, grabbed my own water-blasting cannon, and leaned into the chaos.
And yes, there’s a people dryer nearby for a $7 full-body blow dry, if that makes the whole wet ride situation more appealing to you.
9. Yoshi’s Adventure
Yoshi’s Adventure is easily one of the most family-friendly rides at Epic Universe. Truly, just about any age of park-goer can enjoy it. I climbed onto my own Yoshi and slowly cruised through a colorful Nintendo landscape, looking for Yoshi eggs tucked into the scenery. It’s sweet, gentle, and full of adorable little details, and I loved getting that bird’s-eye view of Peach’s castle.
8. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry
I know this may be a hot take, but Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry landed lower on my list than I expected. I can only get so excited about simulation rides, and this one felt a little too similar to Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios for me. If you love that style of ride, you’ll probably love this one too. It’s just not the kind of attraction that gets my adrenaline going.
That said, the Harry Potter queues are always incredibly immersive, and this one is no exception. I’d still recommend walking into the Ministry of Magic to take in the scale and detail, even if you’re on the fence about actually riding.
7. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
It pains me to rank Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge this low because it was the ride I was most excited about. I have so much love and nostalgia for the Mario Kart games, but the augmented reality element, where I could fire shells at Team Bowser, felt a little confusing to master while also trying to absorb everything happening around me. I think I’d enjoy it more after a few rides, but the line was too long for a repeat during our visit. Still, my family loved it, and I’d happily ride it again.
6. Dragon Racer’s Rally
Dragon Racer’s Rally proves that a ride does not need to be packed with effects to be genuinely fun. I was lifted high into the air in my own practice dragon, with the option to control the wings on the training apparatus. Some riders even manage to pull off a barrel roll, but I was perfectly happy getting swung around and taking in the views.
5. Curse of the Werewolf
Curse of the Werewolf is a smaller coaster, but it is so much fun. It moves forward and backward, spins on the track, and feels a little different every time, which makes it more exciting than I expected. It reaches 37 miles per hour, but there are no upside-down sections or huge drops, so I found it more family-friendly than a bigger thrill ride like Stardust Racers.
4. Monsters Unchained
I’m not especially obsessed with the classic monsters, so I did not expect Monsters Unchained to win me over as much as it did. But honestly, I had a blast. The waiting area and ride demo were genuinely funny, and the ride system felt unlike anything I had experienced before. I was seated on a four-person bench attached to a swinging, rotating arm, and the whole thing was impressive, weird, and wildly entertaining. The jump scares were just scary enough to be fun, which matters because I am absolutely a big chicken. This is the ride I keep telling people to make time for because it’s just freaking cool.
3. Mine Cart Madness
I expected Mario Kart to be the ride that made my nostalgic little heart swell, but Mine Cart Madness is the one that really did it. Inspired by the runaway mine cart gameplay from the Donkey Kong games, this coaster makes it look and feel like I was riding in my own out-of-control mine cart, complete with “hopping” sections of broken track. I sat in the front left of the cart and couldn’t see the mechanics that helped us clear those sections, so the illusion worked beautifully for me. My 5-year-old loved it too.
2. Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders was so nice, we rode it twice. This is a fantastic family coaster, especially for elementary-aged kids and up. It’s fast and exciting without flipping riders upside down or rattling everyone around, so even coaster-wary kids may end up loving it. Since it’s an outdoor coaster, I could see most of the track while walking around the Isle of Berk, which is helpful if you want to judge the speed before getting in line.
1. Stardust Racers
Listen, if you love roller coasters, Stardust Racers is top tier. It’s a dueling coaster with tracks that twist, bank, and race together in incredibly cool ways. It is fast in the kind of way that takes your stomach and doesn’t return it until you’re stepping off the ride. It’s even better at night, when the coaster and the rest of the park are glowing. I rode it three times, and by the third ride my neck was absolutely toast because those G forces are no joke. I still have zero regrets.
Inspired by this post on Scary Mom.
