How Were Epic Universe’s March Crowds?
Universal Epic Universe just went through its first Spring Break.
The park is coming up on its first anniversary in late May, but it still has a few firsts yet to go.
For example, Epic will celebrate its first Easter this Sunday.
Due to all the unusual firsts, we’re still learning the park’s quirks.
Image: Universal
So, how were Epic Universe’s March crowds? Let’s take a look!
The Wait Times at Berk
Universal
Thus far, fans have split into three main categories when discussing Epic Universe.
They’re either passionate about Super Nintendo World or in love with How to Train Your Dragon.
Attractins magazine
Then, we have a few people like me who adore the theming at Dark Universe.
Don’t get me wrong. As a gamer with plenty of Toothless merch, I love the other themed lands, too.
Image: Universal Pictures
I just happen to prefer Classic Monsters. A themed land based on How to Train Your Dragon is a joy, though.
I’m not the only one who thinks that, as demonstrated by the massive rides here.
Of course, part of that crowd behavior stems from the reality of the situation.
Berk offers more attractions than any other themed land at Epic Universe.
Attractions Magazine
So, this place should be the focal point of any park visit based on the sheer volume of options.
For this reason, you should never expect to have Berk to yourself.
Attractins Magazine
As proof, here are the park’s average wait times during March:
- Meet Toothless and Friends – 75 minutes, down 13
- Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – 58 minutes, down 37
- Dragon Racer’s Rally – 50 minutes, down 4
- Fyre Drill – 22 minutes, down 10
Attractins Magazine
I hadn’t expected these kinds of drops during what should have been a crowded month.
We must check the other themed lands before determining whether something has changed, though.
The Wait Times at Dark Universe
Image: Universal
Thus far, Dark Universe has been the most frustrating themed land to evaluate at Epic.
I say this because I WANT this area of the park to be overflowing with crowds.
Universal
As I mentioned, it’s my favorite place at the park. To date, that hasn’t been the case, though.
When Universal plans leaked for Epic, insiders expected Dark Universe to behave differently.
Universal
We thought it would be a daily version of Halloween Horror Nights.
That hasn’t happened yet, with Dark Universe largely overshadowed by its peers.
Universal
Did that happen again in March? Here are the average wait times at Dark Universe this month:
- Curse of the Werewolf – 66 minutes, down 9
- Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment – 22 minutes, down 9
So, yeah. Thus far, everything is trending downward at Epic Universe…during Spring Break month.
The Wait Times at The Ministry of Magic
NBC
Did the trend continue at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter?
I mean, have you ever experienced an uncrowded Wizarding World of Harry Potter in your life?
Comcast
Of course not. That just doesn’t happen, and it certainly didn’t in March, either.
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry averaged a wait of 110 minutes last month.
Universal
Believe it or not, a wait of less than two hours is a very good thing here, at least in year one.
In fact, Battle at the Ministry dropped 37 minutes in March compared to February.
The Wait Times at Super Nintendo World
Universal
I’ll just level with you that I hadn’t expected this sort of behavior in March.
Anecdotally, I’d noticed some lower wait times for rides, but that’s rarely a solid indicator.
Universal
The entire point of waiting for a full month of data is to gain a better understanding of what’s happening.
In this case, we still don’t know, as Universal had indicated it would increase throughput.
Universal
If that’s what we’re witnessing, it’s really working. If not, Epic’s attendance is flagging.
Even if that’s the case, Super Nintendo World should remain relatively impervious.
Photo: Universal
This themed land is THE primary draw at the park and should stay that way for a while.
Did that happen in March? Here are the themed land’s average waits this month:
Universal
- Mine-Cart Madness – 140 minutes, down 7
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge – 85 minutes, down 18
- Yoshi’s Adventure – 46 minutes, down 7
So, this section of the park is down some as well, but it’s not as bad as other places.
Bowser’s Challenge definitely could be a byproduct of increased throughput.
The Other Wait Times at Epic Universe
Attraction Insight
Finally, we have Epic’s other wait times at Celestial Park. They are:
- Stardust Racers – 39 minutes, down 11
- Constellation Carousel – 20 minutes, down 5
Overall, Epic Universe guests waited an average of 61 minutes per attraction.
OC Register
That’s eight minutes less than last time, which again, could be good news or bad news.
We’ll track this story more carefully in April, which should be a bit slower after Easter Week.
Universal
Then, the first half of May should slow even more before attendance soars around Memorial Day.
This is the behavior I would expect at a traditional theme park.
Epic
Please remember that we really don’t have any kind of established behavior for Epic Universe, though.
So, we’re all just guessing here. What I will say is that it’s weird that wait times dropped in March.
Epic
That’s not the traffic patterns I’d expect for a ten-month-old park.
If Universal has figured out a way to enhance throughput by this much, that’s wonderful news, though.
Epic
Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry has definitely been a problem in need of a solution.
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Feature Photo: Universal
