by Joe Tracy, Editor of Theme Park Magazine
Editor’s Note: The park’s full name is Universal Epic Universe. After the first mention, this article simply refers to it as “Epic Universe.”
Universal Orlando Resort has unveiled a lineup of new add-on experiences, including the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience, designed to enhance guest visits to Universal Epic Universe. The park is the resort’s fourth theme park, scheduled to open on May 22, 2025. Starting immediately, visitors can purchase Universal Express passes, VIP tours, photo packages, and even book monster makeovers at the park’s Dark Universe land.
These new offerings aim to help guests maximize their time and enjoyment while also generating additional income for the park. Epic Universe will offer dozens of new experiences spread across five distinct worlds.
What Is Epic Universe?
Epic Universe represents Universal’s most ambitious theme park project to date. The 750-acre development features five immersive themed worlds:
- Celestial Park (the central hub)
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic
- SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
- How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk
- Dark Universe.
The park uses a unique hub-and-spoke design that connects these five distinct worlds through the central Celestial Park area, allowing for clear storytelling transitions between environments while maintaining a cohesive narrative structure.
Universal Express Pass Options
The newly announced Universal Express Pass will allow guests to bypass regular lines at participating attractions throughout Epic Universe. The pass will cover eleven key attractions across all five worlds:
Celestial Park:
- Stardust Racers
- Constellation Carousel
Dark Universe:
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment
- Curse of the Werewolf
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk:
- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
- Fyre Drill
- The Untrainable Dragon
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic:
- Le Cirque Arcanus
SUPER NINTENDO WORLD:
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Yoshi’s Adventure
Guests can purchase a standalone 1-Day Universal Express Pass valid only at Epic Universe, or opt for multi-day passes that include Express access at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure as well. This flexibility allows visitors to create custom experiences based on their vacation plans.
Epic Universe Express passes start at $115 and vary in price depending on the season. The cost does not include admission to the theme park.
VIP Tour Experiences
For those seeking the ultimate Epic Universe experience, Universal has introduced two VIP tour options:
- 1-Park, 1-Day VIP Experience: Valid for Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida, or Universal Islands of Adventure, with both private and non-private tour options available.
- 3-Park, 2-Day VIP Experience: Includes a VIP tour of Epic Universe on one day and a VIP tour of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on another day. Both private and non-private options are available.
These guided tours provide exclusive perks like priority access to all attractions and shows. Universal notes that VIP Experiences are date, time, and park-specific depending on the product purchased.
VIP Tours at Epic Universe begin at $299 per person.
My Universal Photos Package
The My Universal Photos service, already popular at Universal’s existing parks, has been expanded to include Epic Universe. With this service, professional photographers capture images of you throughout the park and on participating attractions, which are then collected in one place for easy access and download.
Guests can purchase digital downloads or physical prints as keepsakes of their Epic Universe adventure. Photo packages begin at $89.99 per person.
Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience
Perhaps the most unique of the new offerings is the Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience in the Dark Universe land. This interactive experience allows guests to transform into iconic Universal Monsters through professional makeup artistry.
Two options are available:
- Experiment Ticket (Face Makeup Only): $45 plus tax per person
- Transformation Ticket (Face Makeup and Accessories): $169 plus tax per adult; $109 plus tax per child (ages 3–9)
Universal Orlando Annual and Seasonal Passholders receive a 10% discount off these prices.
Guests can become classic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, the Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, or The Creature from the Black Lagoon. This experience ties directly into the Dark Universe land, which recreates Darkmoor Village with Victorian architecture and atmospheric effects to create an immersive horror setting.
Innovation Behind Epic Universe
Universal Epic Universe represents more than just new rides and attractions. The park was designed from the ground up by Universal Creative, who assembled a team of more than 500 professionals including artists, engineers, designers, and storytellers.
The team developed innovative ride systems for several attractions, including the unique roller coaster system for Mine Cart Madness in Donkey Kong Country and the advanced KUKA arm-mounted ride vehicles for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe.
As Steve Tatum, Executive Creative Director of Universal Creative, explained at ComicCon 2024: “We’ve really gone from a short storytelling business into the feature-length storytelling business, and in Epic Universe, this is the first theme park in the entire world that is going to be comprised of exclusively these feature-length stories.”
Impact on Tourism and Economy
The new park is expected to create 14,000 new jobs and contribute billions to Orlando’s economy. Located just a few miles from Universal’s current offerings, Epic Universe will be adjacent to three new Universal hotels—Universal Stella Nova Resort, Universal Terra Luna Resort, and the 500-room Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which is located at the theme park itself.
Carissa Baker, assistant professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, told Travel Weekly: “Orlando is already called the theme park capital of the world, but this will be another large, important and unique property. No offense to other destinations, of course, but Orlando will not be beat in this category anytime soon.”
Planning Your Visit
With single-day ticket prices ranging from $139 during off-peak weekdays to $199 during holiday seasons, the additional experiences announced today provide options for visitors to customize their Epic Universe adventure based on preferences and budget.
Epic Universe uses dynamic pricing for its tickets, meaning prices fluctuate based on expected crowd levels, day of the week, and seasonal demand. Multi-day ticket options that include Epic Universe access are also available, with prices ranging from $126–$156 per day, and more during peak days.
Universal will provide complimentary shuttle bus transportation between Epic Universe and Universal’s existing theme parks and CityWalk entertainment complex, making it easy to incorporate the new park into a larger Universal Orlando vacation.
With these new add-on experiences now available for purchase, excitement continues to build as Universal Orlando prepares for what is its most significant expansion ever. The park’s grand opening on May 22, 2025, marks a transformation of Universal Orlando into a destination with four distinct theme parks, eleven hotels, and an array of entertainment options that will reshape Orlando’s tourism landscape.
Explore More: Videos
Universal’s Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience at Epic Universe
Explore More: Resources
- Website: Epic Universe
- Ticket Page: Epic Universe Tickets
- Article: Universal Epic Universe Tickets and Packages: Everything You Need to Know (Theme Park Magazine)
Feature Image: The Darkmoor Monster Makeup Experience at Epic Universe (Photo Courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort)
The magic of themed experiences is meant to be shared, explored, and preserved. Theme Park Magazine is dedicated to doing just that, free from distractions and advertising. We rely on the passion of our readers to keep this mission alive. Your donation is a direct investment in the stories that inspire and transport us. Help us keep the focus on the wonder, not the ads. Support us directly via PayPal today. Your generosity fuels our passion. – Joe Tracy, Editor of Theme Park Magazine
About Joe Tracy
Joe Tracy, the creator, and editor of Theme Park Magazine, is a lifetime enthusiast of theme parks and immersive experiences. The publication was launched under his leadership on June 1, 2021, as a manifestation of his deep-seated love for all things themed. Joe has amassed over 20 years of expertise in both traditional print and online publishing.
