UniversalParksBlog News for March 23rd, 2025
Universal Epic Universe one-day tickets are now on sale! This is not a drill! I’ll provide details in UniversalParksBlog News.
Universal Switches Strategies
Universal
When Universal Orlando Resort confirmed the opening date for Universal Epic Universe, it did most fans dirty.
Universal chose to maximize its revenue by paywalling theme park admission.
Universal
Obviously, you must always pay for theme park entry, but Universal adopted an unusual approach.
To visit Epic Universe during its first year, Universal forced you to purchase a multi-day admission ticket.
Universal
You wouldn’t mind that at all if you were planning to spend your time at Epic Universe, right?
Well, that was the catch. Universal forced guests to purchase at least three days of admission at Universal Orlando Resort (UOR).
Image: Universe
However, you could only use one of those days as theme park admission at Epic Universe.
Basically, Universal made you pay for three days of visits to get a single day at Epic Universe.
Image: Universal
I’ve taken to calling tactics like these the Influencer Tax, as that’s the explanation for them.
People with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media want to be the first to experience things like this.
Photo: Universal
They know that they can monetize their visit to Epic Universe, and so they will pay whatever amount Universal requires.
Similarly, one-percenters with bottomless vacation budgets can also overlook the cost.
Photo: Universal
Everyone else must decide whether to pay extra to visit the theme park we’ve desired for many years now.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Universal’s decision made perfect financial sense. It just wasn’t very cool.
Photo: Universal
Sometimes, capitalism ain’t the greatest, and this is Exhibit A.
I also stated that we’d know a lot more about Universal pre-sales based on when they introduced single-day admission.
Photo: Universal
Well, that time is now. You can now purchase one-day tickets for Epic Universe.
Buy! Buy! Buy!
Photo: Universal
Circling back to what I said last month, this is probably a sign that Epic Universe isn’t selling as well as Comcast had hoped.
At the time, I mentioned that if single-day tickets went on sale in March, the strategy hadn’t succeeded as intended.
Photo: Universal
Had Universal waited until May, we would have known the park had done massive pre-sales.
But that’s Comcast’s problem. For you and me, this is the best possible news, although it comes with a timeline.
Photo: Universal
In case you’ve forgotten, Epic Universe officially opens on May 22nd.
While Team Member sneaks are ongoing, Memorial Day Weekend is the first time guests will enter the park.
Photo: Universal
You can currently purchase tickets for the end of May, but you’ll need to buy one of those heaven-forsaken multi-day packages.
On June 1st, that changes. As Kristin Sabol detailed here, you can purchase single-day admission at Epic Universe starting on that date.
Photo: Universal
So, we’re really just talking about ten days where Universal forces the multi-day packages.
After that, it’ll be business as usual at Epic Universe for the next hundred years.
Photo: Universal
As of June 1st, single-day tickets cost $139 plus tax for adults and – I swear this isn’t a joke — $134 for kids.
Yes, you get a whopping $5 discount for being under 18. And Universal isn’t offering discounts to Florida residents, either.
Photo: Universal
At this point, you gotta pay to play at Epic Universe. But you can shave the cost a bit by buying two-day admission.
Those tickets cost $126.50 per adult and $121.50 per child. Alas, one of those park days must be spent elsewhere.
Photo: Universal
You cannot purchase a two-day ticket exclusively for Epic Universe yet.
The bean counters are FULLY in charge of pricing during these opening months.
More about Epic Universe
Photo: Universal
Obviously, this is THE story at Universal Studios right now, and we’ve got more details for you.
One of our clients was among the fortunate few to visit Epic Universe during a Team Member sneak preview.
Photo: Universal
While they didn’t get to see and do everything at the park, they still experienced several rides and shows.
Most importantly, they’ve done everything at Super Nintendo World.
Photo: Universal
Let’s just say that the review I had in my inbox was glowing. And Universal wants its entire staff to feel proud of the new park.
So, Universal has extended Team Member previews of Epic Universe until April 5th.
Photo: Universal
This is, I think, the third time Universal has added more dates.
So, at this point, Team Members have zero excuses if they haven’t gone yet.
Photo: Universal
While Super Nintendo World will assuredly sell the most tickets, you shouldn’t sleep on the other themed lands.
Dark Universe surprised the person who messaged me. They’re not a fan of Classic Universal Monsters.
Photo: Universal
Once they reached this themed land, they totally bought into the stylish immersion on display here.
Similarly, you don’t need to be a child to appreciate the wonders of How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk.
Photo: Universal
This place hosts all sorts of fun Viking and dragon folklore, and I’ll go so far as to say it’s what DreamWorks Land should have been.
Universal Studios Miscellany
Image Credit: Universal
The only other big story this week isn’t fun. Universal is getting sued again, and this one makes me salty.
Every quarter, I report on the so-called theme park injury report that the Florida government requires.
Universal
To its credit, Walt Disney World is generally quite transparent about this stuff.
Conversely, Universal has developed a reputation as, well, blatantly lying about some of its incidents.
Photo:instagram/universalorlando
Previously, a report of back pain on the government document proved to be an instance of paralysis.
Now, someone is suing Universal over what they’re describing as a “traumatic brain injury” that the park listed as…a headache.
Photo:instagram/universalorlando
Yeah, it’s not great. Remarkably, this is a different claim from the one last year about a 2023 visit.
The same attorney has handled both claims, and the victim that time has multiple cervical injuries as well.
I’m not being glib but rather brutally honest when I say it’s obvious why Universal is closing Hollywood Rip Rockit.
While only a small fraction of riders have experienced symptoms, I still don’t deem the attraction safe…or fun.
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Feature Photo: Universal
