Epic Universe’s opening season has been a wild journey. Common’s new park has had sky-high wait instances and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. That first half of that development seems poised to speed up within the months to return, however not earlier than an low season slowdown. This comes as 1-day tickets are beginning to promote out for choose dates by means of December 2025, with many extra days and whole weeks hitting (tender) capability.
We’ll begin by but once more making a plug for our rundown of Why You Ought to Skip Epic Universe. That was written throughout paid previews, however it has aged like a fantastic wine–for essentially the most half. We lately returned with a refresh to that publish, as our recommendation for almost all of vacationers is to remain on the sidelines and wait till Epic Universe improves its operations and effectivity.
Amongst different issues, two of the opposite main factors raised in that article are “Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds” and “Journey Breakdowns & Downtime.” These proceed to be the overriding points with Epic Universe, as the brand new park continues to be a veritable curler coaster of each day crowd ranges and common wait instances since its official opening three months in the past. With that stated, there are some attention-grabbing updates on crowds and ticketing at Epic Universe, so let’s dive proper in to these…
Park Capability & Ticket Information Loophole
For the primary few months of the park’s existence, Epic Universe ticket information could possibly be obtained by scraping the Common Orlando backend web site. Sadly, Common lastly wised up and closed the loophole that allowed this information to be acquired, so we not can see what number of tickets can be found and what number of have been offered.
Previous to the info lockdown, we knew Common Orlando was initially limiting attendance at 12,000 to fifteen,000 friends from the beginning of previews by means of the tip of June, relying upon the day. That then expanded to roughly 22,000 friends per day in July. That’s the place the higher restrict stood by means of the rest of 2025, per their information.
Individually, it’s our been understanding that Epic Universe has a complete theoretical capability of round 35,000 to 40,000 friends. Corroborating this, Common Orlando elevated its ticket cap to 45,000 throughout the board for the rest of 2025, doubling or tripling the restrict relying on the date. As we defined in one other publish detailing the rise, the numbers are a bit deceptive. Common made many extra multi-day ticket sorts out there, which few friends have been buying within the first place.
The underside line was that regardless that Common was providing to promote ~45,000 tickets per day to Epic Universe, natural demand was the true limiting issue since these have been much less well-liked ticket sorts and even common 1-day tickets principally weren’t promoting out from mid-July onward. The tip end result was that Common Orlando was promoting round 15,000 to twenty,000 tickets (with just a few outliers that develop the vary to 13,000 to 22,000) per day. Not as soon as this summer season did Epic Universe hit even half of that 45,000 quantity.
Offered Out Dates Enhance & Lower
The entire above is related, even when it’s previous tense, as a result of we had been watching ticket information and gross sales for the ultimate few months of the 12 months. As of late July, there have been a number of dates round Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yr’s Eve that have been offered out of single-day tickets.
In early August, much more dates appeared offered out. I might swear it was round half of all dates between October and December, and even some Mondays in September (kicking myself for not taking screenshots). Then in the future inside the final couple of weeks, availability had been replenished, just about throughout the board. Just a few dates round Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yr’s Eve have been gone.
Now, extra of these dates have offered out, however nonetheless next-to-nothing within the subsequent few months. The above screenshot is from at this time (August 20, 2025). Previous to November, the one unavailable date is October 7, 2025. Simply two weeks in the past, availability was considerably decrease.
In all probability, that is the results of Common Orlando reallocating ticket capability. Again once we wrote that publish detailing the earlier leap in capability from ~15,000 to ~45,000 that we (principally) referred to as nothing to fret about, we added one asterisk. That it could possibly be meaningless if it have been laying the groundwork for future modifications and simpler reallocations of capability among the many numerous buckets of park tickets. Particularly: “If 45,000 single-day Epic Universe tickets have been immediately made out there for every day with every week or two discover, our evaluation of the impression on crowd ranges can be very totally different.“
Sadly, we don’t know precisely what occurred with the allocation throughout ‘buckets’ as a result of the ticket information loophole has been closed. However we will surmise from the circumstances that: 1) tickets have been reallocated from much less fascinating buckets to extra fascinating ones, and; 2) beforehand offered out dates are actually promoting extra tickets. That means that is not a nothing to fret about scenario, and these larger caps completely do matter. At minimal, dates in the course of the fall and vacation season are going to promote extra tickets than earlier than and exceed the earlier 22,000 excessive water mark.
For no matter it’s price, the explanation I’ve stalked the single-day ticket web page on Common Orlando is not so I might purchase tickets to dates that have been beforehand offered out. It’s just about the precise reverse. I wish to take note of which dates and days of the week are promoting out most steadily so I can keep away from them. My view just isn’t that it’s a “good factor” that tickets are again on sale. This isn’t like a widget that sells out and is restocked.
If tickets grow to be out there after promoting out, that capability is coming from someplace. I’ve zero want to go to Epic Universe on any date that sells out, and I might implore you to rethink visits throughout these peak weeks. Or at the very least wait till on-the-ground experiences are available in from Columbus Day weekend, as that’ll be the primary huge stress check of Epic Universe operations.
Lowest Crowds on Weekends
Talking of which, the 2 days of the week with the bottom common wait instances over the previous few months have been Saturdays (#2) and Sundays (#1, by far). Friday is third-lowest. The simplest clarification for that is that Epic Universe single-day tickets are costliest on weekends, so budget-conscious vacationers are looking for out inexpensive dates.
There’s much less consistency for Mondays by means of Thursdays, and never sufficient information factors to attract definitive conclusions. Statistically, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been worst, which could possibly be a byproduct of vacationers beginning out their weeks at Walt Disney World, 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 Sundays. That is fueled largely by locals and Annual Passholders over the weekends, after which vacationers being most inclined to go to on Mondays. Midweek is the best possible time to go to the opposite parks, with common wait instances bottoming out on Wednesdays.
This is smart! Floridians work on weekdays, making weekends their greatest time to go to the opposite parks for Annual Passholders. However Epic Universe doesn’t have APs, and plenty of locals have already gotten their “repair” of Epic Universe and are ready for Annual Passes. The end result has been an identical dynamic as we noticed at Walt Disney World when AP gross sales have been suspended for therefore lengthy (it nonetheless exists to today, however isn’t as exaggerated).
One factor to notice is that as quickly as Annual Cross gross sales or Florida resident ticket offers begin for Epic Universe, this dynamic flips. Saturday and Sunday will grow to be the busiest days of the weekend. Furthermore, there are exceptions to all the above when climate rears its ugly head. Nothing throws a monkey wrench into Epic Universe wait instances like a stormy day!
Present Crowds
It’s been nearly precisely two months since we shared our preliminary 2025 Epic Universe Crowd Calendar, which provided predictions and a recap of present crowds. On the predictions entrance, that publish nonetheless holds up.
Clearly, there’s two months of extra wait instances information since then to share (courtesy of thrill-data). Crowds have solely worsened since then. Epic Universe set a report for its busiest day ever on July 16, when common wait instances have been 85 minutes and the group degree was 10/10. That was adopted by back-to-back 80 minute days August 6-7. There have been a number of different days at or above 70 minutes, with each day lows within the mid-to-upper 40s.
Late June was the beginning of a stretch when weekly averages have been 64-68 minutes for six consecutive weeks; with all however one week within the 64-66 minute vary. For a park that’s so inconsistent on a day-to-day foundation, that’s remarkably constant on a weekly one.
Two out of the final three weeks have proven indicators of enchancment, and our expectation is that this development doesn’t simply proceed, however that it accelerates within the subsequent 4-6 weeks. I’m cautiously optimistic that Epic Universe could have a weekly common under 50 minutes someday in mid-September. On the very least, there ought to be sure days when the common wait time is below 40 minutes. Epic Universe has been near that on the 2 most up-to-date Sundays.
It’s price noting that no different Common Orlando or Walt Disney World park is hitting common each day wait instances at wherever close to these ranges. As we’ve said numerous instances earlier than, that is principally a capability and effectivity story, and never considered one of overwhelming demand.
The park is hitting these crowd ranges with comparatively low attendance. There’s potential for this to get a lot worse if Epic Universe doesn’t discover its footing on journey throughput. (Or will get unfortunate with climate on the next attendance day.)
To place these numbers into perspective, it’s additionally price noting that Walt Disney World’s two busiest days since 2019 have been 71 and 70 minute waits–each got here in the course of the weeks of New Yr’s (early 2020 and late 2023). On the identical dates this summer season, Walt Disney World’s common wait time has been lower than half of Epic Universe and that’s regardless of larger each day attendance. The identical goes for Common Orlando’s different parks, that are seeing averages of round 25 minutes.
The trendline is beginning to flip optimistic now that faculty has gone again into session, however we nonetheless extremely suggest Epic Universe on a weekend, if in any respect, in the course of the 2025 low season. In any other case, ready till 2026 nonetheless looks like one of the best plan of action, however that comes with huge caveats concerning the park scaling up capability at a sooner clip than it improves journey throughput. It could end up that the following 5-6 weeks plus scattered dates this vacation season find yourself being the candy spot.
If planning a late 2025 or 2026 journey, I’d goal all the identical dates on our Greatest & Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World 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 World. Should you solely have in the future to do Epic Universe, make it a Sunday throughout a type of weeks.
Crew Member Complimentary Entry
Common Orlando Crew Members can now use as much as two of their complimentary passes for entry to Epic Universe every calendar month. Beforehand, Crew Members must buy single-day tickets in the event that they needed to go to Epic Universe.
Notice that Crew Members nonetheless don’t have self-admit privileges, so that they have to make use of these comp tickets on themselves and a visitor in the event that they wish to go to the park. Or, they may give each away to household & mates. Comp tickets expire on the finish of every month, so Crew Members can’t accumulate multi-month stockpiles to be able to go to with extra individuals.
It’s laborious to say the diploma of an impression it will have on Epic Universe crowds. It’ll undoubtedly transfer the needle to a point, however diluted over the course of a complete month, in all probability not considerably so. It’s much less vital than self-admit or the rollout of Annual Passes can be.
The angle from which that is in all probability essentially the most attention-grabbing is that it’s a step in direction of the inevitable rollout of each. This was a logical precursor to AP gross sales or ID entry for Crew Members, both of which could possibly be subsequent up. Whereas additional Crew Member entry appears extra probably, introducing restricted add-ons for the highest tiers of Annual Passes is a revenue-generating transfer, so it could be step one.
Truthfully, we hope that doesn’t occur till someday in 2026 (and don’t anticipate it to). Though we’d love to have the ability to buy an Annual Cross for Epic Universe, there’s just one month of low season earlier than crowds choose up once more. If that, as the beginning of Halloween Horror Nights might unleash a type of pent-up demand.
Then it’s the center of the Halloween and vacation seasons, each of that are more likely to be busier. Then in 2026, common ticketing insurance policies are relaxed, which might additional exacerbate crowds. Common Orlando must do every little thing to protect the visitor expertise for informal vacationers, and that probably means no Annual Passes for an additional 12 months except main strides might be made to enhance operational capability.
Park Hopping Check
Talking of the relief of ticketing insurance policies, we already know that friends reserving 2026 Common Orlando trip packages for journey in January and past could have the choice to decide on park-to-park tickets that features Epic Universe. These tickets will not embrace Epic Universe as a separate entitlement, and as a substitute permit park hopping.
We assume the identical will probably be true of standard multi-day Common Orlando tickets for 2026. Whereas the above Crew Member comp entry is a mandatory prerequisite to Annual Passes, and many others., so too is solely establishing regular ticketing insurance policies for Epic Universe. And the logical date for that’s January 2026.
Previous to then, Common Orlando is reportedly getting into choose friends with trip packages right into a park hopping check proper now. We’ve solely seen a pair scattered experiences of this on social media, however figured it was price mentioning proactively in case you’re fortunate sufficient to be chosen. Our recommendation can be hopping to Epic Universe after 4 pm. Try this in your first day and have that be your preliminary Epic Universe expertise. See the way it goes and decide whether or not that’s an applicable strategy for you on subsequent days.
Earnings Name
Comcast lately held its quarterly earnings name and, unsurprisingly, they praised the profitable launch of Epic Universe. The park was the direct driver of a 19% improve in income for the theme parks phase, which is smart because it didn’t beforehand exist! Listed below are a few govt quotes from the name transcript:
“We anticipate Epic to proceed to scale over the course of the 12 months, with larger attendance and per caps in addition to considerably improved working leverage.”
“As anticipated, our near-term focus is on increasing journey throughput to cut back early attendance constraints. Epic is trending according to our expectations and effectively on its strategy to reworking Common Orlando into a real week-long vacation spot.”
It’s inconceivable to know the way executives actually really feel about Epic Universe’s launch, as they’re going to color a fairly rosy image as a result of the numbers did–and can proceed to–go up. However, these quotes counsel they’re going to proceed discovering methods to extend attendance whereas additionally bettering operational effectivity.
That is what we’re seeing above with ticketing modifications and it’s what we anticipated with effectivity. Nonetheless, it’s good to listen to the manager feedback about journey throughput and working leverage. That is reassuring, and signifies even high-level leaders notice that they will’t merely pack the park–the reliability must first enhance. I admire that.
As a fast apart, I hear plenty of chatter about how Orange County attributing a report setting month for occupancy tax collections to Epic Universe is “proof” that it’s hurting Walt Disney World. On the danger of stating the plain, having extra resort rooms stuffed is what will increase the potential occupancy tax pool–and Common simply opened three new ones, thereby rising the county’s whole room stock!
There are extra inns now, so it stands to cause that, even on the identical occupancy share throughout all resorts, tax collections would improve. If the identical variety of friends have been visiting however stayed at Common as a substitute of Disney, occupancy tax collections can be flat. That’s not what occurred, although, as Walt Disney World’s occupancy share additionally elevated. And that is regardless of Disney additionally including room stock over the past 12 months. Epic Universe might (rightfully!) get the credit score, however each Disney and Common contributed to the report.
Programming Notice: Visiting Quickly
Truthfully, I’m watching all the above out of my very own self-interest, as I’m intending to go to Epic Universe once more quickly. I’m undoubtedly going at the very least in the future and am debating a second (have already got nights booked at Helios Grand). I’ll undoubtedly be placing my cash the place my mouth is by happening a Sunday, however have the choice to additionally go to on Saturday if the info (and climate) are trying good or gamble on the next Monday if Sunday goes effectively (or, I suppose, goes actually badly and I need a do-over?).
We’ve now pushed off our household journey twice now, with late January 2026 being the brand new goal, so this one is simply me once more. The objective is to eat as a lot as humanly doable, testing the bounds of how a lot the human abdomen can endure when stuffed to capability and loaded into consecutive rides on Stardust Racers. I’ll be doing loads of different testing as effectively, and am open to ideas on this entrance if there are specifics you’d wish to learn about present ops at Epic Universe. Or you probably have any menu & restaurant suggestions, please share these, too.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure that to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every little thing about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every little thing about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and way more, join our FREE e mail publication!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe because the begin of summer season? Planning a day within the low season or throughout Halloween Horror Nights? What did you consider wait instances and crowds? Expertise any operational meltdowns attributable to breakdowns or climate? Is it doable or possible that Epic Universe truly has even larger attendance from October by means of December 2025, or all through 2026? Will you go to Epic Universe this 12 months, or will you look forward to crowds to calm down (in principle) in 2026? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
Epic Universe’s opening season has been a wild journey. Common’s new park has had sky-high wait instances and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. That first half of that development seems poised to speed up within the months to return, however not earlier than an low season slowdown. This comes as 1-day tickets are beginning to promote out for choose dates by means of December 2025, with many extra days and whole weeks hitting (tender) capability.
We’ll begin by but once more making a plug for our rundown of Why You Ought to Skip Epic Universe. That was written throughout paid previews, however it has aged like a fantastic wine–for essentially the most half. We lately returned with a refresh to that publish, as our recommendation for almost all of vacationers is to remain on the sidelines and wait till Epic Universe improves its operations and effectivity.
Amongst different issues, two of the opposite main factors raised in that article are “Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds” and “Journey Breakdowns & Downtime.” These proceed to be the overriding points with Epic Universe, as the brand new park continues to be a veritable curler coaster of each day crowd ranges and common wait instances since its official opening three months in the past. With that stated, there are some attention-grabbing updates on crowds and ticketing at Epic Universe, so let’s dive proper in to these…
Park Capability & Ticket Information Loophole
For the primary few months of the park’s existence, Epic Universe ticket information could possibly be obtained by scraping the Common Orlando backend web site. Sadly, Common lastly wised up and closed the loophole that allowed this information to be acquired, so we not can see what number of tickets can be found and what number of have been offered.
Previous to the info lockdown, we knew Common Orlando was initially limiting attendance at 12,000 to fifteen,000 friends from the beginning of previews by means of the tip of June, relying upon the day. That then expanded to roughly 22,000 friends per day in July. That’s the place the higher restrict stood by means of the rest of 2025, per their information.
Individually, it’s our been understanding that Epic Universe has a complete theoretical capability of round 35,000 to 40,000 friends. Corroborating this, Common Orlando elevated its ticket cap to 45,000 throughout the board for the rest of 2025, doubling or tripling the restrict relying on the date. As we defined in one other publish detailing the rise, the numbers are a bit deceptive. Common made many extra multi-day ticket sorts out there, which few friends have been buying within the first place.
The underside line was that regardless that Common was providing to promote ~45,000 tickets per day to Epic Universe, natural demand was the true limiting issue since these have been much less well-liked ticket sorts and even common 1-day tickets principally weren’t promoting out from mid-July onward. The tip end result was that Common Orlando was promoting round 15,000 to twenty,000 tickets (with just a few outliers that develop the vary to 13,000 to 22,000) per day. Not as soon as this summer season did Epic Universe hit even half of that 45,000 quantity.
Offered Out Dates Enhance & Lower
The entire above is related, even when it’s previous tense, as a result of we had been watching ticket information and gross sales for the ultimate few months of the 12 months. As of late July, there have been a number of dates round Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yr’s Eve that have been offered out of single-day tickets.
In early August, much more dates appeared offered out. I might swear it was round half of all dates between October and December, and even some Mondays in September (kicking myself for not taking screenshots). Then in the future inside the final couple of weeks, availability had been replenished, just about throughout the board. Just a few dates round Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yr’s Eve have been gone.
Now, extra of these dates have offered out, however nonetheless next-to-nothing within the subsequent few months. The above screenshot is from at this time (August 20, 2025). Previous to November, the one unavailable date is October 7, 2025. Simply two weeks in the past, availability was considerably decrease.
In all probability, that is the results of Common Orlando reallocating ticket capability. Again once we wrote that publish detailing the earlier leap in capability from ~15,000 to ~45,000 that we (principally) referred to as nothing to fret about, we added one asterisk. That it could possibly be meaningless if it have been laying the groundwork for future modifications and simpler reallocations of capability among the many numerous buckets of park tickets. Particularly: “If 45,000 single-day Epic Universe tickets have been immediately made out there for every day with every week or two discover, our evaluation of the impression on crowd ranges can be very totally different.“
Sadly, we don’t know precisely what occurred with the allocation throughout ‘buckets’ as a result of the ticket information loophole has been closed. However we will surmise from the circumstances that: 1) tickets have been reallocated from much less fascinating buckets to extra fascinating ones, and; 2) beforehand offered out dates are actually promoting extra tickets. That means that is not a nothing to fret about scenario, and these larger caps completely do matter. At minimal, dates in the course of the fall and vacation season are going to promote extra tickets than earlier than and exceed the earlier 22,000 excessive water mark.
For no matter it’s price, the explanation I’ve stalked the single-day ticket web page on Common Orlando is not so I might purchase tickets to dates that have been beforehand offered out. It’s just about the precise reverse. I wish to take note of which dates and days of the week are promoting out most steadily so I can keep away from them. My view just isn’t that it’s a “good factor” that tickets are again on sale. This isn’t like a widget that sells out and is restocked.
If tickets grow to be out there after promoting out, that capability is coming from someplace. I’ve zero want to go to Epic Universe on any date that sells out, and I might implore you to rethink visits throughout these peak weeks. Or at the very least wait till on-the-ground experiences are available in from Columbus Day weekend, as that’ll be the primary huge stress check of Epic Universe operations.
Lowest Crowds on Weekends
Talking of which, the 2 days of the week with the bottom common wait instances over the previous few months have been Saturdays (#2) and Sundays (#1, by far). Friday is third-lowest. The simplest clarification for that is that Epic Universe single-day tickets are costliest on weekends, so budget-conscious vacationers are looking for out inexpensive dates.
There’s much less consistency for Mondays by means of Thursdays, and never sufficient information factors to attract definitive conclusions. Statistically, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been worst, which could possibly be a byproduct of vacationers beginning out their weeks at Walt Disney World, 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 Sundays. That is fueled largely by locals and Annual Passholders over the weekends, after which vacationers being most inclined to go to on Mondays. Midweek is the best possible time to go to the opposite parks, with common wait instances bottoming out on Wednesdays.
This is smart! Floridians work on weekdays, making weekends their greatest time to go to the opposite parks for Annual Passholders. However Epic Universe doesn’t have APs, and plenty of locals have already gotten their “repair” of Epic Universe and are ready for Annual Passes. The end result has been an identical dynamic as we noticed at Walt Disney World when AP gross sales have been suspended for therefore lengthy (it nonetheless exists to today, however isn’t as exaggerated).
One factor to notice is that as quickly as Annual Cross gross sales or Florida resident ticket offers begin for Epic Universe, this dynamic flips. Saturday and Sunday will grow to be the busiest days of the weekend. Furthermore, there are exceptions to all the above when climate rears its ugly head. Nothing throws a monkey wrench into Epic Universe wait instances like a stormy day!
Present Crowds
It’s been nearly precisely two months since we shared our preliminary 2025 Epic Universe Crowd Calendar, which provided predictions and a recap of present crowds. On the predictions entrance, that publish nonetheless holds up.
Clearly, there’s two months of extra wait instances information since then to share (courtesy of thrill-data). Crowds have solely worsened since then. Epic Universe set a report for its busiest day ever on July 16, when common wait instances have been 85 minutes and the group degree was 10/10. That was adopted by back-to-back 80 minute days August 6-7. There have been a number of different days at or above 70 minutes, with each day lows within the mid-to-upper 40s.
Late June was the beginning of a stretch when weekly averages have been 64-68 minutes for six consecutive weeks; with all however one week within the 64-66 minute vary. For a park that’s so inconsistent on a day-to-day foundation, that’s remarkably constant on a weekly one.
Two out of the final three weeks have proven indicators of enchancment, and our expectation is that this development doesn’t simply proceed, however that it accelerates within the subsequent 4-6 weeks. I’m cautiously optimistic that Epic Universe could have a weekly common under 50 minutes someday in mid-September. On the very least, there ought to be sure days when the common wait time is below 40 minutes. Epic Universe has been near that on the 2 most up-to-date Sundays.
It’s price noting that no different Common Orlando or Walt Disney World park is hitting common each day wait instances at wherever close to these ranges. As we’ve said numerous instances earlier than, that is principally a capability and effectivity story, and never considered one of overwhelming demand.
The park is hitting these crowd ranges with comparatively low attendance. There’s potential for this to get a lot worse if Epic Universe doesn’t discover its footing on journey throughput. (Or will get unfortunate with climate on the next attendance day.)
To place these numbers into perspective, it’s additionally price noting that Walt Disney World’s two busiest days since 2019 have been 71 and 70 minute waits–each got here in the course of the weeks of New Yr’s (early 2020 and late 2023). On the identical dates this summer season, Walt Disney World’s common wait time has been lower than half of Epic Universe and that’s regardless of larger each day attendance. The identical goes for Common Orlando’s different parks, that are seeing averages of round 25 minutes.
The trendline is beginning to flip optimistic now that faculty has gone again into session, however we nonetheless extremely suggest Epic Universe on a weekend, if in any respect, in the course of the 2025 low season. In any other case, ready till 2026 nonetheless looks like one of the best plan of action, however that comes with huge caveats concerning the park scaling up capability at a sooner clip than it improves journey throughput. It could end up that the following 5-6 weeks plus scattered dates this vacation season find yourself being the candy spot.
If planning a late 2025 or 2026 journey, I’d goal all the identical dates on our Greatest & Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World 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 World. Should you solely have in the future to do Epic Universe, make it a Sunday throughout a type of weeks.
Crew Member Complimentary Entry
Common Orlando Crew Members can now use as much as two of their complimentary passes for entry to Epic Universe every calendar month. Beforehand, Crew Members must buy single-day tickets in the event that they needed to go to Epic Universe.
Notice that Crew Members nonetheless don’t have self-admit privileges, so that they have to make use of these comp tickets on themselves and a visitor in the event that they wish to go to the park. Or, they may give each away to household & mates. Comp tickets expire on the finish of every month, so Crew Members can’t accumulate multi-month stockpiles to be able to go to with extra individuals.
It’s laborious to say the diploma of an impression it will have on Epic Universe crowds. It’ll undoubtedly transfer the needle to a point, however diluted over the course of a complete month, in all probability not considerably so. It’s much less vital than self-admit or the rollout of Annual Passes can be.
The angle from which that is in all probability essentially the most attention-grabbing is that it’s a step in direction of the inevitable rollout of each. This was a logical precursor to AP gross sales or ID entry for Crew Members, both of which could possibly be subsequent up. Whereas additional Crew Member entry appears extra probably, introducing restricted add-ons for the highest tiers of Annual Passes is a revenue-generating transfer, so it could be step one.
Truthfully, we hope that doesn’t occur till someday in 2026 (and don’t anticipate it to). Though we’d love to have the ability to buy an Annual Cross for Epic Universe, there’s just one month of low season earlier than crowds choose up once more. If that, as the beginning of Halloween Horror Nights might unleash a type of pent-up demand.
Then it’s the center of the Halloween and vacation seasons, each of that are more likely to be busier. Then in 2026, common ticketing insurance policies are relaxed, which might additional exacerbate crowds. Common Orlando must do every little thing to protect the visitor expertise for informal vacationers, and that probably means no Annual Passes for an additional 12 months except main strides might be made to enhance operational capability.
Park Hopping Check
Talking of the relief of ticketing insurance policies, we already know that friends reserving 2026 Common Orlando trip packages for journey in January and past could have the choice to decide on park-to-park tickets that features Epic Universe. These tickets will not embrace Epic Universe as a separate entitlement, and as a substitute permit park hopping.
We assume the identical will probably be true of standard multi-day Common Orlando tickets for 2026. Whereas the above Crew Member comp entry is a mandatory prerequisite to Annual Passes, and many others., so too is solely establishing regular ticketing insurance policies for Epic Universe. And the logical date for that’s January 2026.
Previous to then, Common Orlando is reportedly getting into choose friends with trip packages right into a park hopping check proper now. We’ve solely seen a pair scattered experiences of this on social media, however figured it was price mentioning proactively in case you’re fortunate sufficient to be chosen. Our recommendation can be hopping to Epic Universe after 4 pm. Try this in your first day and have that be your preliminary Epic Universe expertise. See the way it goes and decide whether or not that’s an applicable strategy for you on subsequent days.
Earnings Name
Comcast lately held its quarterly earnings name and, unsurprisingly, they praised the profitable launch of Epic Universe. The park was the direct driver of a 19% improve in income for the theme parks phase, which is smart because it didn’t beforehand exist! Listed below are a few govt quotes from the name transcript:
“We anticipate Epic to proceed to scale over the course of the 12 months, with larger attendance and per caps in addition to considerably improved working leverage.”
“As anticipated, our near-term focus is on increasing journey throughput to cut back early attendance constraints. Epic is trending according to our expectations and effectively on its strategy to reworking Common Orlando into a real week-long vacation spot.”
It’s inconceivable to know the way executives actually really feel about Epic Universe’s launch, as they’re going to color a fairly rosy image as a result of the numbers did–and can proceed to–go up. However, these quotes counsel they’re going to proceed discovering methods to extend attendance whereas additionally bettering operational effectivity.
That is what we’re seeing above with ticketing modifications and it’s what we anticipated with effectivity. Nonetheless, it’s good to listen to the manager feedback about journey throughput and working leverage. That is reassuring, and signifies even high-level leaders notice that they will’t merely pack the park–the reliability must first enhance. I admire that.
As a fast apart, I hear plenty of chatter about how Orange County attributing a report setting month for occupancy tax collections to Epic Universe is “proof” that it’s hurting Walt Disney World. On the danger of stating the plain, having extra resort rooms stuffed is what will increase the potential occupancy tax pool–and Common simply opened three new ones, thereby rising the county’s whole room stock!
There are extra inns now, so it stands to cause that, even on the identical occupancy share throughout all resorts, tax collections would improve. If the identical variety of friends have been visiting however stayed at Common as a substitute of Disney, occupancy tax collections can be flat. That’s not what occurred, although, as Walt Disney World’s occupancy share additionally elevated. And that is regardless of Disney additionally including room stock over the past 12 months. Epic Universe might (rightfully!) get the credit score, however each Disney and Common contributed to the report.
Programming Notice: Visiting Quickly
Truthfully, I’m watching all the above out of my very own self-interest, as I’m intending to go to Epic Universe once more quickly. I’m undoubtedly going at the very least in the future and am debating a second (have already got nights booked at Helios Grand). I’ll undoubtedly be placing my cash the place my mouth is by happening a Sunday, however have the choice to additionally go to on Saturday if the info (and climate) are trying good or gamble on the next Monday if Sunday goes effectively (or, I suppose, goes actually badly and I need a do-over?).
We’ve now pushed off our household journey twice now, with late January 2026 being the brand new goal, so this one is simply me once more. The objective is to eat as a lot as humanly doable, testing the bounds of how a lot the human abdomen can endure when stuffed to capability and loaded into consecutive rides on Stardust Racers. I’ll be doing loads of different testing as effectively, and am open to ideas on this entrance if there are specifics you’d wish to learn about present ops at Epic Universe. Or you probably have any menu & restaurant suggestions, please share these, too.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure that to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every little thing about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every little thing about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and way more, join our FREE e mail publication!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe because the begin of summer season? Planning a day within the low season or throughout Halloween Horror Nights? What did you consider wait instances and crowds? Expertise any operational meltdowns attributable to breakdowns or climate? Is it doable or possible that Epic Universe truly has even larger attendance from October by means of December 2025, or all through 2026? Will you go to Epic Universe this 12 months, or will you look forward to crowds to calm down (in principle) in 2026? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
Epic Universe’s opening season has been a wild journey. Common’s new park has had sky-high wait instances and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. That first half of that development seems poised to speed up within the months to return, however not earlier than an low season slowdown. This comes as 1-day tickets are beginning to promote out for choose dates by means of December 2025, with many extra days and whole weeks hitting (tender) capability.
We’ll begin by but once more making a plug for our rundown of Why You Ought to Skip Epic Universe. That was written throughout paid previews, however it has aged like a fantastic wine–for essentially the most half. We lately returned with a refresh to that publish, as our recommendation for almost all of vacationers is to remain on the sidelines and wait till Epic Universe improves its operations and effectivity.
Amongst different issues, two of the opposite main factors raised in that article are “Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds” and “Journey Breakdowns & Downtime.” These proceed to be the overriding points with Epic Universe, as the brand new park continues to be a veritable curler coaster of each day crowd ranges and common wait instances since its official opening three months in the past. With that stated, there are some attention-grabbing updates on crowds and ticketing at Epic Universe, so let’s dive proper in to these…
Park Capability & Ticket Information Loophole
For the primary few months of the park’s existence, Epic Universe ticket information could possibly be obtained by scraping the Common Orlando backend web site. Sadly, Common lastly wised up and closed the loophole that allowed this information to be acquired, so we not can see what number of tickets can be found and what number of have been offered.
Previous to the info lockdown, we knew Common Orlando was initially limiting attendance at 12,000 to fifteen,000 friends from the beginning of previews by means of the tip of June, relying upon the day. That then expanded to roughly 22,000 friends per day in July. That’s the place the higher restrict stood by means of the rest of 2025, per their information.
Individually, it’s our been understanding that Epic Universe has a complete theoretical capability of round 35,000 to 40,000 friends. Corroborating this, Common Orlando elevated its ticket cap to 45,000 throughout the board for the rest of 2025, doubling or tripling the restrict relying on the date. As we defined in one other publish detailing the rise, the numbers are a bit deceptive. Common made many extra multi-day ticket sorts out there, which few friends have been buying within the first place.
The underside line was that regardless that Common was providing to promote ~45,000 tickets per day to Epic Universe, natural demand was the true limiting issue since these have been much less well-liked ticket sorts and even common 1-day tickets principally weren’t promoting out from mid-July onward. The tip end result was that Common Orlando was promoting round 15,000 to twenty,000 tickets (with just a few outliers that develop the vary to 13,000 to 22,000) per day. Not as soon as this summer season did Epic Universe hit even half of that 45,000 quantity.
Offered Out Dates Enhance & Lower
The entire above is related, even when it’s previous tense, as a result of we had been watching ticket information and gross sales for the ultimate few months of the 12 months. As of late July, there have been a number of dates round Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yr’s Eve that have been offered out of single-day tickets.
In early August, much more dates appeared offered out. I might swear it was round half of all dates between October and December, and even some Mondays in September (kicking myself for not taking screenshots). Then in the future inside the final couple of weeks, availability had been replenished, just about throughout the board. Just a few dates round Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yr’s Eve have been gone.
Now, extra of these dates have offered out, however nonetheless next-to-nothing within the subsequent few months. The above screenshot is from at this time (August 20, 2025). Previous to November, the one unavailable date is October 7, 2025. Simply two weeks in the past, availability was considerably decrease.
In all probability, that is the results of Common Orlando reallocating ticket capability. Again once we wrote that publish detailing the earlier leap in capability from ~15,000 to ~45,000 that we (principally) referred to as nothing to fret about, we added one asterisk. That it could possibly be meaningless if it have been laying the groundwork for future modifications and simpler reallocations of capability among the many numerous buckets of park tickets. Particularly: “If 45,000 single-day Epic Universe tickets have been immediately made out there for every day with every week or two discover, our evaluation of the impression on crowd ranges can be very totally different.“
Sadly, we don’t know precisely what occurred with the allocation throughout ‘buckets’ as a result of the ticket information loophole has been closed. However we will surmise from the circumstances that: 1) tickets have been reallocated from much less fascinating buckets to extra fascinating ones, and; 2) beforehand offered out dates are actually promoting extra tickets. That means that is not a nothing to fret about scenario, and these larger caps completely do matter. At minimal, dates in the course of the fall and vacation season are going to promote extra tickets than earlier than and exceed the earlier 22,000 excessive water mark.
For no matter it’s price, the explanation I’ve stalked the single-day ticket web page on Common Orlando is not so I might purchase tickets to dates that have been beforehand offered out. It’s just about the precise reverse. I wish to take note of which dates and days of the week are promoting out most steadily so I can keep away from them. My view just isn’t that it’s a “good factor” that tickets are again on sale. This isn’t like a widget that sells out and is restocked.
If tickets grow to be out there after promoting out, that capability is coming from someplace. I’ve zero want to go to Epic Universe on any date that sells out, and I might implore you to rethink visits throughout these peak weeks. Or at the very least wait till on-the-ground experiences are available in from Columbus Day weekend, as that’ll be the primary huge stress check of Epic Universe operations.
Lowest Crowds on Weekends
Talking of which, the 2 days of the week with the bottom common wait instances over the previous few months have been Saturdays (#2) and Sundays (#1, by far). Friday is third-lowest. The simplest clarification for that is that Epic Universe single-day tickets are costliest on weekends, so budget-conscious vacationers are looking for out inexpensive dates.
There’s much less consistency for Mondays by means of Thursdays, and never sufficient information factors to attract definitive conclusions. Statistically, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been worst, which could possibly be a byproduct of vacationers beginning out their weeks at Walt Disney World, 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 Sundays. That is fueled largely by locals and Annual Passholders over the weekends, after which vacationers being most inclined to go to on Mondays. Midweek is the best possible time to go to the opposite parks, with common wait instances bottoming out on Wednesdays.
This is smart! Floridians work on weekdays, making weekends their greatest time to go to the opposite parks for Annual Passholders. However Epic Universe doesn’t have APs, and plenty of locals have already gotten their “repair” of Epic Universe and are ready for Annual Passes. The end result has been an identical dynamic as we noticed at Walt Disney World when AP gross sales have been suspended for therefore lengthy (it nonetheless exists to today, however isn’t as exaggerated).
One factor to notice is that as quickly as Annual Cross gross sales or Florida resident ticket offers begin for Epic Universe, this dynamic flips. Saturday and Sunday will grow to be the busiest days of the weekend. Furthermore, there are exceptions to all the above when climate rears its ugly head. Nothing throws a monkey wrench into Epic Universe wait instances like a stormy day!
Present Crowds
It’s been nearly precisely two months since we shared our preliminary 2025 Epic Universe Crowd Calendar, which provided predictions and a recap of present crowds. On the predictions entrance, that publish nonetheless holds up.
Clearly, there’s two months of extra wait instances information since then to share (courtesy of thrill-data). Crowds have solely worsened since then. Epic Universe set a report for its busiest day ever on July 16, when common wait instances have been 85 minutes and the group degree was 10/10. That was adopted by back-to-back 80 minute days August 6-7. There have been a number of different days at or above 70 minutes, with each day lows within the mid-to-upper 40s.
Late June was the beginning of a stretch when weekly averages have been 64-68 minutes for six consecutive weeks; with all however one week within the 64-66 minute vary. For a park that’s so inconsistent on a day-to-day foundation, that’s remarkably constant on a weekly one.
Two out of the final three weeks have proven indicators of enchancment, and our expectation is that this development doesn’t simply proceed, however that it accelerates within the subsequent 4-6 weeks. I’m cautiously optimistic that Epic Universe could have a weekly common under 50 minutes someday in mid-September. On the very least, there ought to be sure days when the common wait time is below 40 minutes. Epic Universe has been near that on the 2 most up-to-date Sundays.
It’s price noting that no different Common Orlando or Walt Disney World park is hitting common each day wait instances at wherever close to these ranges. As we’ve said numerous instances earlier than, that is principally a capability and effectivity story, and never considered one of overwhelming demand.
The park is hitting these crowd ranges with comparatively low attendance. There’s potential for this to get a lot worse if Epic Universe doesn’t discover its footing on journey throughput. (Or will get unfortunate with climate on the next attendance day.)
To place these numbers into perspective, it’s additionally price noting that Walt Disney World’s two busiest days since 2019 have been 71 and 70 minute waits–each got here in the course of the weeks of New Yr’s (early 2020 and late 2023). On the identical dates this summer season, Walt Disney World’s common wait time has been lower than half of Epic Universe and that’s regardless of larger each day attendance. The identical goes for Common Orlando’s different parks, that are seeing averages of round 25 minutes.
The trendline is beginning to flip optimistic now that faculty has gone again into session, however we nonetheless extremely suggest Epic Universe on a weekend, if in any respect, in the course of the 2025 low season. In any other case, ready till 2026 nonetheless looks like one of the best plan of action, however that comes with huge caveats concerning the park scaling up capability at a sooner clip than it improves journey throughput. It could end up that the following 5-6 weeks plus scattered dates this vacation season find yourself being the candy spot.
If planning a late 2025 or 2026 journey, I’d goal all the identical dates on our Greatest & Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World 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 World. Should you solely have in the future to do Epic Universe, make it a Sunday throughout a type of weeks.
Crew Member Complimentary Entry
Common Orlando Crew Members can now use as much as two of their complimentary passes for entry to Epic Universe every calendar month. Beforehand, Crew Members must buy single-day tickets in the event that they needed to go to Epic Universe.
Notice that Crew Members nonetheless don’t have self-admit privileges, so that they have to make use of these comp tickets on themselves and a visitor in the event that they wish to go to the park. Or, they may give each away to household & mates. Comp tickets expire on the finish of every month, so Crew Members can’t accumulate multi-month stockpiles to be able to go to with extra individuals.
It’s laborious to say the diploma of an impression it will have on Epic Universe crowds. It’ll undoubtedly transfer the needle to a point, however diluted over the course of a complete month, in all probability not considerably so. It’s much less vital than self-admit or the rollout of Annual Passes can be.
The angle from which that is in all probability essentially the most attention-grabbing is that it’s a step in direction of the inevitable rollout of each. This was a logical precursor to AP gross sales or ID entry for Crew Members, both of which could possibly be subsequent up. Whereas additional Crew Member entry appears extra probably, introducing restricted add-ons for the highest tiers of Annual Passes is a revenue-generating transfer, so it could be step one.
Truthfully, we hope that doesn’t occur till someday in 2026 (and don’t anticipate it to). Though we’d love to have the ability to buy an Annual Cross for Epic Universe, there’s just one month of low season earlier than crowds choose up once more. If that, as the beginning of Halloween Horror Nights might unleash a type of pent-up demand.
Then it’s the center of the Halloween and vacation seasons, each of that are more likely to be busier. Then in 2026, common ticketing insurance policies are relaxed, which might additional exacerbate crowds. Common Orlando must do every little thing to protect the visitor expertise for informal vacationers, and that probably means no Annual Passes for an additional 12 months except main strides might be made to enhance operational capability.
Park Hopping Check
Talking of the relief of ticketing insurance policies, we already know that friends reserving 2026 Common Orlando trip packages for journey in January and past could have the choice to decide on park-to-park tickets that features Epic Universe. These tickets will not embrace Epic Universe as a separate entitlement, and as a substitute permit park hopping.
We assume the identical will probably be true of standard multi-day Common Orlando tickets for 2026. Whereas the above Crew Member comp entry is a mandatory prerequisite to Annual Passes, and many others., so too is solely establishing regular ticketing insurance policies for Epic Universe. And the logical date for that’s January 2026.
Previous to then, Common Orlando is reportedly getting into choose friends with trip packages right into a park hopping check proper now. We’ve solely seen a pair scattered experiences of this on social media, however figured it was price mentioning proactively in case you’re fortunate sufficient to be chosen. Our recommendation can be hopping to Epic Universe after 4 pm. Try this in your first day and have that be your preliminary Epic Universe expertise. See the way it goes and decide whether or not that’s an applicable strategy for you on subsequent days.
Earnings Name
Comcast lately held its quarterly earnings name and, unsurprisingly, they praised the profitable launch of Epic Universe. The park was the direct driver of a 19% improve in income for the theme parks phase, which is smart because it didn’t beforehand exist! Listed below are a few govt quotes from the name transcript:
“We anticipate Epic to proceed to scale over the course of the 12 months, with larger attendance and per caps in addition to considerably improved working leverage.”
“As anticipated, our near-term focus is on increasing journey throughput to cut back early attendance constraints. Epic is trending according to our expectations and effectively on its strategy to reworking Common Orlando into a real week-long vacation spot.”
It’s inconceivable to know the way executives actually really feel about Epic Universe’s launch, as they’re going to color a fairly rosy image as a result of the numbers did–and can proceed to–go up. However, these quotes counsel they’re going to proceed discovering methods to extend attendance whereas additionally bettering operational effectivity.
That is what we’re seeing above with ticketing modifications and it’s what we anticipated with effectivity. Nonetheless, it’s good to listen to the manager feedback about journey throughput and working leverage. That is reassuring, and signifies even high-level leaders notice that they will’t merely pack the park–the reliability must first enhance. I admire that.
As a fast apart, I hear plenty of chatter about how Orange County attributing a report setting month for occupancy tax collections to Epic Universe is “proof” that it’s hurting Walt Disney World. On the danger of stating the plain, having extra resort rooms stuffed is what will increase the potential occupancy tax pool–and Common simply opened three new ones, thereby rising the county’s whole room stock!
There are extra inns now, so it stands to cause that, even on the identical occupancy share throughout all resorts, tax collections would improve. If the identical variety of friends have been visiting however stayed at Common as a substitute of Disney, occupancy tax collections can be flat. That’s not what occurred, although, as Walt Disney World’s occupancy share additionally elevated. And that is regardless of Disney additionally including room stock over the past 12 months. Epic Universe might (rightfully!) get the credit score, however each Disney and Common contributed to the report.
Programming Notice: Visiting Quickly
Truthfully, I’m watching all the above out of my very own self-interest, as I’m intending to go to Epic Universe once more quickly. I’m undoubtedly going at the very least in the future and am debating a second (have already got nights booked at Helios Grand). I’ll undoubtedly be placing my cash the place my mouth is by happening a Sunday, however have the choice to additionally go to on Saturday if the info (and climate) are trying good or gamble on the next Monday if Sunday goes effectively (or, I suppose, goes actually badly and I need a do-over?).
We’ve now pushed off our household journey twice now, with late January 2026 being the brand new goal, so this one is simply me once more. The objective is to eat as a lot as humanly doable, testing the bounds of how a lot the human abdomen can endure when stuffed to capability and loaded into consecutive rides on Stardust Racers. I’ll be doing loads of different testing as effectively, and am open to ideas on this entrance if there are specifics you’d wish to learn about present ops at Epic Universe. Or you probably have any menu & restaurant suggestions, please share these, too.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure that to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every little thing about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every little thing about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and way more, join our FREE e mail publication!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe because the begin of summer season? Planning a day within the low season or throughout Halloween Horror Nights? What did you consider wait instances and crowds? Expertise any operational meltdowns attributable to breakdowns or climate? Is it doable or possible that Epic Universe truly has even larger attendance from October by means of December 2025, or all through 2026? Will you go to Epic Universe this 12 months, or will you look forward to crowds to calm down (in principle) in 2026? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
Epic Universe’s opening season has been a wild journey. Common’s new park has had sky-high wait instances and crowd ranges, however not essentially attendance. That first half of that development seems poised to speed up within the months to return, however not earlier than an low season slowdown. This comes as 1-day tickets are beginning to promote out for choose dates by means of December 2025, with many extra days and whole weeks hitting (tender) capability.
We’ll begin by but once more making a plug for our rundown of Why You Ought to Skip Epic Universe. That was written throughout paid previews, however it has aged like a fantastic wine–for essentially the most half. We lately returned with a refresh to that publish, as our recommendation for almost all of vacationers is to remain on the sidelines and wait till Epic Universe improves its operations and effectivity.
Amongst different issues, two of the opposite main factors raised in that article are “Unpredictable Attendance & Crowds” and “Journey Breakdowns & Downtime.” These proceed to be the overriding points with Epic Universe, as the brand new park continues to be a veritable curler coaster of each day crowd ranges and common wait instances since its official opening three months in the past. With that stated, there are some attention-grabbing updates on crowds and ticketing at Epic Universe, so let’s dive proper in to these…
Park Capability & Ticket Information Loophole
For the primary few months of the park’s existence, Epic Universe ticket information could possibly be obtained by scraping the Common Orlando backend web site. Sadly, Common lastly wised up and closed the loophole that allowed this information to be acquired, so we not can see what number of tickets can be found and what number of have been offered.
Previous to the info lockdown, we knew Common Orlando was initially limiting attendance at 12,000 to fifteen,000 friends from the beginning of previews by means of the tip of June, relying upon the day. That then expanded to roughly 22,000 friends per day in July. That’s the place the higher restrict stood by means of the rest of 2025, per their information.
Individually, it’s our been understanding that Epic Universe has a complete theoretical capability of round 35,000 to 40,000 friends. Corroborating this, Common Orlando elevated its ticket cap to 45,000 throughout the board for the rest of 2025, doubling or tripling the restrict relying on the date. As we defined in one other publish detailing the rise, the numbers are a bit deceptive. Common made many extra multi-day ticket sorts out there, which few friends have been buying within the first place.
The underside line was that regardless that Common was providing to promote ~45,000 tickets per day to Epic Universe, natural demand was the true limiting issue since these have been much less well-liked ticket sorts and even common 1-day tickets principally weren’t promoting out from mid-July onward. The tip end result was that Common Orlando was promoting round 15,000 to twenty,000 tickets (with just a few outliers that develop the vary to 13,000 to 22,000) per day. Not as soon as this summer season did Epic Universe hit even half of that 45,000 quantity.
Offered Out Dates Enhance & Lower
The entire above is related, even when it’s previous tense, as a result of we had been watching ticket information and gross sales for the ultimate few months of the 12 months. As of late July, there have been a number of dates round Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yr’s Eve that have been offered out of single-day tickets.
In early August, much more dates appeared offered out. I might swear it was round half of all dates between October and December, and even some Mondays in September (kicking myself for not taking screenshots). Then in the future inside the final couple of weeks, availability had been replenished, just about throughout the board. Just a few dates round Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Yr’s Eve have been gone.
Now, extra of these dates have offered out, however nonetheless next-to-nothing within the subsequent few months. The above screenshot is from at this time (August 20, 2025). Previous to November, the one unavailable date is October 7, 2025. Simply two weeks in the past, availability was considerably decrease.
In all probability, that is the results of Common Orlando reallocating ticket capability. Again once we wrote that publish detailing the earlier leap in capability from ~15,000 to ~45,000 that we (principally) referred to as nothing to fret about, we added one asterisk. That it could possibly be meaningless if it have been laying the groundwork for future modifications and simpler reallocations of capability among the many numerous buckets of park tickets. Particularly: “If 45,000 single-day Epic Universe tickets have been immediately made out there for every day with every week or two discover, our evaluation of the impression on crowd ranges can be very totally different.“
Sadly, we don’t know precisely what occurred with the allocation throughout ‘buckets’ as a result of the ticket information loophole has been closed. However we will surmise from the circumstances that: 1) tickets have been reallocated from much less fascinating buckets to extra fascinating ones, and; 2) beforehand offered out dates are actually promoting extra tickets. That means that is not a nothing to fret about scenario, and these larger caps completely do matter. At minimal, dates in the course of the fall and vacation season are going to promote extra tickets than earlier than and exceed the earlier 22,000 excessive water mark.
For no matter it’s price, the explanation I’ve stalked the single-day ticket web page on Common Orlando is not so I might purchase tickets to dates that have been beforehand offered out. It’s just about the precise reverse. I wish to take note of which dates and days of the week are promoting out most steadily so I can keep away from them. My view just isn’t that it’s a “good factor” that tickets are again on sale. This isn’t like a widget that sells out and is restocked.
If tickets grow to be out there after promoting out, that capability is coming from someplace. I’ve zero want to go to Epic Universe on any date that sells out, and I might implore you to rethink visits throughout these peak weeks. Or at the very least wait till on-the-ground experiences are available in from Columbus Day weekend, as that’ll be the primary huge stress check of Epic Universe operations.
Lowest Crowds on Weekends
Talking of which, the 2 days of the week with the bottom common wait instances over the previous few months have been Saturdays (#2) and Sundays (#1, by far). Friday is third-lowest. The simplest clarification for that is that Epic Universe single-day tickets are costliest on weekends, so budget-conscious vacationers are looking for out inexpensive dates.
There’s much less consistency for Mondays by means of Thursdays, and never sufficient information factors to attract definitive conclusions. Statistically, Wednesdays and Thursdays have been worst, which could possibly be a byproduct of vacationers beginning out their weeks at Walt Disney World, 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 Sundays. That is fueled largely by locals and Annual Passholders over the weekends, after which vacationers being most inclined to go to on Mondays. Midweek is the best possible time to go to the opposite parks, with common wait instances bottoming out on Wednesdays.
This is smart! Floridians work on weekdays, making weekends their greatest time to go to the opposite parks for Annual Passholders. However Epic Universe doesn’t have APs, and plenty of locals have already gotten their “repair” of Epic Universe and are ready for Annual Passes. The end result has been an identical dynamic as we noticed at Walt Disney World when AP gross sales have been suspended for therefore lengthy (it nonetheless exists to today, however isn’t as exaggerated).
One factor to notice is that as quickly as Annual Cross gross sales or Florida resident ticket offers begin for Epic Universe, this dynamic flips. Saturday and Sunday will grow to be the busiest days of the weekend. Furthermore, there are exceptions to all the above when climate rears its ugly head. Nothing throws a monkey wrench into Epic Universe wait instances like a stormy day!
Present Crowds
It’s been nearly precisely two months since we shared our preliminary 2025 Epic Universe Crowd Calendar, which provided predictions and a recap of present crowds. On the predictions entrance, that publish nonetheless holds up.
Clearly, there’s two months of extra wait instances information since then to share (courtesy of thrill-data). Crowds have solely worsened since then. Epic Universe set a report for its busiest day ever on July 16, when common wait instances have been 85 minutes and the group degree was 10/10. That was adopted by back-to-back 80 minute days August 6-7. There have been a number of different days at or above 70 minutes, with each day lows within the mid-to-upper 40s.
Late June was the beginning of a stretch when weekly averages have been 64-68 minutes for six consecutive weeks; with all however one week within the 64-66 minute vary. For a park that’s so inconsistent on a day-to-day foundation, that’s remarkably constant on a weekly one.
Two out of the final three weeks have proven indicators of enchancment, and our expectation is that this development doesn’t simply proceed, however that it accelerates within the subsequent 4-6 weeks. I’m cautiously optimistic that Epic Universe could have a weekly common under 50 minutes someday in mid-September. On the very least, there ought to be sure days when the common wait time is below 40 minutes. Epic Universe has been near that on the 2 most up-to-date Sundays.
It’s price noting that no different Common Orlando or Walt Disney World park is hitting common each day wait instances at wherever close to these ranges. As we’ve said numerous instances earlier than, that is principally a capability and effectivity story, and never considered one of overwhelming demand.
The park is hitting these crowd ranges with comparatively low attendance. There’s potential for this to get a lot worse if Epic Universe doesn’t discover its footing on journey throughput. (Or will get unfortunate with climate on the next attendance day.)
To place these numbers into perspective, it’s additionally price noting that Walt Disney World’s two busiest days since 2019 have been 71 and 70 minute waits–each got here in the course of the weeks of New Yr’s (early 2020 and late 2023). On the identical dates this summer season, Walt Disney World’s common wait time has been lower than half of Epic Universe and that’s regardless of larger each day attendance. The identical goes for Common Orlando’s different parks, that are seeing averages of round 25 minutes.
The trendline is beginning to flip optimistic now that faculty has gone again into session, however we nonetheless extremely suggest Epic Universe on a weekend, if in any respect, in the course of the 2025 low season. In any other case, ready till 2026 nonetheless looks like one of the best plan of action, however that comes with huge caveats concerning the park scaling up capability at a sooner clip than it improves journey throughput. It could end up that the following 5-6 weeks plus scattered dates this vacation season find yourself being the candy spot.
If planning a late 2025 or 2026 journey, I’d goal all the identical dates on our Greatest & Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World 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 World. Should you solely have in the future to do Epic Universe, make it a Sunday throughout a type of weeks.
Crew Member Complimentary Entry
Common Orlando Crew Members can now use as much as two of their complimentary passes for entry to Epic Universe every calendar month. Beforehand, Crew Members must buy single-day tickets in the event that they needed to go to Epic Universe.
Notice that Crew Members nonetheless don’t have self-admit privileges, so that they have to make use of these comp tickets on themselves and a visitor in the event that they wish to go to the park. Or, they may give each away to household & mates. Comp tickets expire on the finish of every month, so Crew Members can’t accumulate multi-month stockpiles to be able to go to with extra individuals.
It’s laborious to say the diploma of an impression it will have on Epic Universe crowds. It’ll undoubtedly transfer the needle to a point, however diluted over the course of a complete month, in all probability not considerably so. It’s much less vital than self-admit or the rollout of Annual Passes can be.
The angle from which that is in all probability essentially the most attention-grabbing is that it’s a step in direction of the inevitable rollout of each. This was a logical precursor to AP gross sales or ID entry for Crew Members, both of which could possibly be subsequent up. Whereas additional Crew Member entry appears extra probably, introducing restricted add-ons for the highest tiers of Annual Passes is a revenue-generating transfer, so it could be step one.
Truthfully, we hope that doesn’t occur till someday in 2026 (and don’t anticipate it to). Though we’d love to have the ability to buy an Annual Cross for Epic Universe, there’s just one month of low season earlier than crowds choose up once more. If that, as the beginning of Halloween Horror Nights might unleash a type of pent-up demand.
Then it’s the center of the Halloween and vacation seasons, each of that are more likely to be busier. Then in 2026, common ticketing insurance policies are relaxed, which might additional exacerbate crowds. Common Orlando must do every little thing to protect the visitor expertise for informal vacationers, and that probably means no Annual Passes for an additional 12 months except main strides might be made to enhance operational capability.
Park Hopping Check
Talking of the relief of ticketing insurance policies, we already know that friends reserving 2026 Common Orlando trip packages for journey in January and past could have the choice to decide on park-to-park tickets that features Epic Universe. These tickets will not embrace Epic Universe as a separate entitlement, and as a substitute permit park hopping.
We assume the identical will probably be true of standard multi-day Common Orlando tickets for 2026. Whereas the above Crew Member comp entry is a mandatory prerequisite to Annual Passes, and many others., so too is solely establishing regular ticketing insurance policies for Epic Universe. And the logical date for that’s January 2026.
Previous to then, Common Orlando is reportedly getting into choose friends with trip packages right into a park hopping check proper now. We’ve solely seen a pair scattered experiences of this on social media, however figured it was price mentioning proactively in case you’re fortunate sufficient to be chosen. Our recommendation can be hopping to Epic Universe after 4 pm. Try this in your first day and have that be your preliminary Epic Universe expertise. See the way it goes and decide whether or not that’s an applicable strategy for you on subsequent days.
Earnings Name
Comcast lately held its quarterly earnings name and, unsurprisingly, they praised the profitable launch of Epic Universe. The park was the direct driver of a 19% improve in income for the theme parks phase, which is smart because it didn’t beforehand exist! Listed below are a few govt quotes from the name transcript:
“We anticipate Epic to proceed to scale over the course of the 12 months, with larger attendance and per caps in addition to considerably improved working leverage.”
“As anticipated, our near-term focus is on increasing journey throughput to cut back early attendance constraints. Epic is trending according to our expectations and effectively on its strategy to reworking Common Orlando into a real week-long vacation spot.”
It’s inconceivable to know the way executives actually really feel about Epic Universe’s launch, as they’re going to color a fairly rosy image as a result of the numbers did–and can proceed to–go up. However, these quotes counsel they’re going to proceed discovering methods to extend attendance whereas additionally bettering operational effectivity.
That is what we’re seeing above with ticketing modifications and it’s what we anticipated with effectivity. Nonetheless, it’s good to listen to the manager feedback about journey throughput and working leverage. That is reassuring, and signifies even high-level leaders notice that they will’t merely pack the park–the reliability must first enhance. I admire that.
As a fast apart, I hear plenty of chatter about how Orange County attributing a report setting month for occupancy tax collections to Epic Universe is “proof” that it’s hurting Walt Disney World. On the danger of stating the plain, having extra resort rooms stuffed is what will increase the potential occupancy tax pool–and Common simply opened three new ones, thereby rising the county’s whole room stock!
There are extra inns now, so it stands to cause that, even on the identical occupancy share throughout all resorts, tax collections would improve. If the identical variety of friends have been visiting however stayed at Common as a substitute of Disney, occupancy tax collections can be flat. That’s not what occurred, although, as Walt Disney World’s occupancy share additionally elevated. And that is regardless of Disney additionally including room stock over the past 12 months. Epic Universe might (rightfully!) get the credit score, however each Disney and Common contributed to the report.
Programming Notice: Visiting Quickly
Truthfully, I’m watching all the above out of my very own self-interest, as I’m intending to go to Epic Universe once more quickly. I’m undoubtedly going at the very least in the future and am debating a second (have already got nights booked at Helios Grand). I’ll undoubtedly be placing my cash the place my mouth is by happening a Sunday, however have the choice to additionally go to on Saturday if the info (and climate) are trying good or gamble on the next Monday if Sunday goes effectively (or, I suppose, goes actually badly and I need a do-over?).
We’ve now pushed off our household journey twice now, with late January 2026 being the brand new goal, so this one is simply me once more. The objective is to eat as a lot as humanly doable, testing the bounds of how a lot the human abdomen can endure when stuffed to capability and loaded into consecutive rides on Stardust Racers. I’ll be doing loads of different testing as effectively, and am open to ideas on this entrance if there are specifics you’d wish to learn about present ops at Epic Universe. Or you probably have any menu & restaurant suggestions, please share these, too.
Want journey planning ideas and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure that to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for every little thing about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for every little thing about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and way more, join our FREE e mail publication!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever visited Epic Universe because the begin of summer season? Planning a day within the low season or throughout Halloween Horror Nights? What did you consider wait instances and crowds? Expertise any operational meltdowns attributable to breakdowns or climate? Is it doable or possible that Epic Universe truly has even larger attendance from October by means of December 2025, or all through 2026? Will you go to Epic Universe this 12 months, or will you look forward to crowds to calm down (in principle) in 2026? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
