Keep going back and forth on this one for our fall 2025 trip. It’s me, DW, DD9 and DS7 for 1 night at All Star Sports and 4 nights at BLT (late arrival and early departure so 4 park days in the middle).
Day 1: EP/MK
Day 2: Epic or EP (or HS)/AK
Day 3: HS
Day 4: MK
We are planning a fall 2026 trip on-site trip to Universal, but I think it would be fun to break away from WDW for one day to see Epic and get a taste of the park. We would get Express Passes for Epic and skip Ministry (assuming very long lines).
Considerations:
Obviously the cost is much more to spend the day at Epic.
We will have a rental car, but still logistics are easier going from BLT to WDW parks.
My kids don’t love AK (other than Everest and Pandora) so it’s not a huge loss to skip it.
I know DS7 won’t ride Monsters Unchained due to the scare elements (he is fine with physically intense rides, but not scary rides).
The kids and I are excited to see Epic (DW doesn’t care much either way and is leaving the decision up to me).
Any other considerations you can think of that I’m missing? Will the replies be different if I post in the UOR forum … kidding … I think
Another MIGHT be temperature depending on when exactly you go.
A lot of those reviewing Epic are mentioning that there is almost no place to escape the sun and/or rain. Universal apparently didn’t build in enough places to escape the heat other than the queues themselves.
If that is at all a concern, it could be a reason not to hit Epic.
Overall, I am not sure which I would pick. Only 3 days at Disney seems really short. Then again…Epic looks, to quote the Incredibles’ neighbor kid, “totally wicked!”
Assuming we make our fall trip happen with the family we will be asking a similar question. I really want to do an epic day, the rest of the family isn’t quite as excited as I am but I’m hoping we can make it happen. And I will just try to ignore the cost part…
Yeah, unfortunately with school and work schedules 4 Orlando days is all we can swing this year. But paying for less nights of a 1BR at BLT means we have flexibility in the budget to do other stuff like Express Pass if we go to Epic and possibly one LLPP day at HS. Same trip budget but spread over less days.
I’m trying to give myself financial permission to add one day on November.
The loss of 2020-2021 travel is still fresh enough in my mind to “not put off for tomorrow….”
I will never be done revenge travel. I lost the last two prime years of eldest kid’s travel-with-family age.
So what I am hearing is that if I plan on doing a trip over Memorial Day 2026, I should definitely book Helios as a way to take a break and get out of the heat?
We just watched a bunch of EPIC reels and then a WDW one popped up and my girls looked deflated.
They are not excited about WDW like they are about EPIC.
DH is onboard to add a day to our WDW trip for EPIC.
Stealing your thread.
Should we check out of WDW and then stay at USO, maybe splurge for something with express passes? Would you? Will epic have those?
Should I do epic mid week or save til the end? Do it first?
ETA
Blockquote
Express Passes are not included with any Universal Orlando annual pass, nor is the perk included with any stay at a Universal Orlando hotel (as it is for the other parks at top-tier hotels).
The only significant benefits for switching to a UOR resort are early entry and convenience. For us, it is not worth it for one day at Epic. If we add a day at Epic, we will just get up early and drive over from WDW.
If you are buying LLMP at WDW, then going to Epic earlier in your trip will push your LLMP days back and make it easier to get certain LL rides/times.
This would make it an easier decision for me. My kids are still very excited about going back to WDW for things like SDD, GotG, SM, TSM and others. And I have the additional complication of DS7 being on the fence for making it to 48" by our trip (and even if he is tall enough, he doesn’t like visually scary monster type things so he will probably sit out for Monsters Unchained).
I’d call it enhancing my thread. This is all good stuff.
What is really drawing me to Epic is that there are some StarCruiser alums who are now Team Members there - specifically in the How to Train Your Dragon area. I want to go just to see them in action because they are so amazing! I didn’t think I would be thinking about adding a day there, but am now thinking … maybe in October?
I also vote Epic. I’m working on finagling at least one day during my August trip. If you are a fan of the different lands, I would absolutely find a way to experience it!
