Antisocial Tourist

We’ve been tracking the progress of Universal’s new Epic Universe since the day we heard it would include Super Nintendo World. As two kids who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, this was the stuff of dreams — a whole land dedicated to the games that defined our childhood.

But when we learned that the park’s entire concept revolved around portal hopping, with each world accessible through its own themed portal, and that it would feature a luxury hotel built right inside the park, our interest skyrocketed. This wasn’t just another theme park; it felt like Universal was designing an experience tailor-made for adults who still love to play.

So when Epic Universe finally announced its opening date and released ticket sales, we didn’t hesitate. We checked our calendar, booked our park passes, and reserved a stay at the Helios Grand Hotel, Universal’s first-ever in-park hotel. And now that our trip has come and gone, we can confidently say this: Epic Universe was worth the wait.

If you’re planning your own visit to Epic Universe, and you want to stay at the Epic Universe Hotel (officially the Helios Grand Hotel), this guide covers everything you need to know. From what it’s really like to stay at the Helios Grand Hotel to insider tips for navigating the park’s portals, restaurants, and attractions, we’re sharing our full experience. Here’s exactly what to expect at Universal’s Epic Universe — the newest addition to Orlando’s theme park scene.

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What is Epic Universe?

Orlando is often called the theme park capital of the world because it’s home to some of the most famous parks on Earth, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld. Each has its own collection of parks, hotels, and loyal fans who plan entire vacations around them.

Well, Epic Universe is the newest addition to the Universal Orlando Resort collection. They already had two major theme parks — Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure —plus a water theme park called Volcano Bay. But in May 2025, Universal opened Epic Universe, its first brand-new theme park in decades and the resort’s third theme park (fourth park overall).

Epic Universe was built around the idea of portal hopping. Instead of walking from one ride to the next, guests enter themed portals that transport them into entirely different worlds. Each land feels like its own destination, complete with unique architecture, food, and attractions.

The park features four main lands: Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, and Dark Universe, inspired by Universal’s classic monsters. Together, they make Epic Universe, which is the most ambitious project Universal has ever attempted.

What is the Epic Universe Hotel?

The Epic Universe Hotel is officially called the Helios Grand Hotel, and it’s Universal’s first-ever hotel built inside a park. It sits right in the heart of Epic Universe, with rooms that face the park and give guests the rare experience of watching the park from a birdseye view while they chill in bed.

The Helios Grand Hotel is operated by Loews Hotels, which is Universal’s exclusive hotel partner. The name “Helios” comes from the Greek god of the sun, which fits the theme perfectly. The hotel is designed around sunlight, energy, and motion, which are the same ideas that inspired the park’s “universe” concept. Everything about it feels bright, polished, and intentional.

Why is the Epic Universe Hotel a Big Deal?

Staying at the Helios Grand Hotel completely changes how you experience Epic Universe.

Early Park Admission

One of the biggest advantages of staying at a Universal Studios hotel is early park admission. No matter which Universal property you book, you’ll get in an hour early to all Universal parks. But guests at the Helios Grand Hotel get to enter through their own dedicated gate, making the experience even more exclusive.

Most visitors who take advantage of early park entry (often called “EPA” in the theme park community) arrive an extra hour before early entry officially begins to line up. This is known as “rope dropping,” a term that comes from the literal ropes used to hold back crowds before the park opens. Rope droppers position themselves early so they can be the first in line for the biggest rides once those ropes drop.

For guests of the Helios Grand Hotel, it’s a completely different story. Instead of waiting in massive crowds at the main gates, you’ll line up with only a fraction of the people. You can sleep in a little longer, stroll from your room to the park entrance in just a few steps, and start your day with far less stress. This perk alone makes staying on-site feel absolutely worth it.

_💣 _{Antisocial Tourist Tip — We still recommend lining up at least 45 minutes early since all the other hotel guests will be taking advantage of early park admission, too. But you’ll still save a ton of time by skipping transportation and the long walk to the main entrance.}

Helios Grand Hotel Dedicated Park Entrance

Dedicated Entrance Line

Having your own entrance isn’t just about skipping the morning rush; it’s also about the ease of coming and going throughout the day. Guests of the Helios Grand Hotel can walk straight from their room to the park in minutes. There’s no need to wait for shuttles, battle traffic, or stand in long security lines with everyone else.

It also changes the overall experience once you’re inside. You can pop back to your room for sunscreen, a change of clothes, or even a quick shower without feeling like you’re wasting precious park time. When the crowds are thick or the weather turns, it’s incredibly freeing to know your escape is just steps away.

And at the end of the night, when everyone else is trudging toward the exits and waiting for buses, you’ll be heading in the opposite direction — right back to your hotel room. It’s one of those subtle luxuries that you don’t fully appreciate until you experience it for yourself.

The Fountain Show from Park-View Rooms

Another perk worth mentioning for Helios Grand Hotel guests is the fountain show that you can watch from your room (you’ll need to upgrade to a park-view room, but trust us, it’s worth the extra splurge!). Every night at 10 p.m., Epic Universe puts on a massive fountain and light show in the center of the park, and the view from above is incredible.

From our window, we could see the entire park come alive. The fountains danced perfectly in sync with the music, and every light across Epic Universe changed color along with the show. From the ground, you notice the water and music, but from a higher view, you see how the whole park transforms together — like the lighting, fountains, and projections are part of one enormous performance.

The show honestly rivals the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas, and watching it from our own room, away from the crowds, made it feel even more magical. We poured a drink, turned off the lights, and just took it all in. It was the perfect way to end each night.

Who Is the Epic Universe Hotel Best For

The Helios Grand Hotel is best for travelers who want the theme park experience without sacrificing comfort or style. It’s not a hotel built for budget travelers or families looking for quick breakfasts and early bedtimes. This one is for people who appreciate design, convenience, and a touch of luxury.

If you grew up with Nintendo, DreamWorks, or Harry Potter, this park is already packed with nostalgia. Pair that with a hotel that feels more like a high-end resort than a theme park property, and you’ve got something that appeals to adults who still love a little playtime.

The Helios Grand Hotel is also a great fit for couples, friend trips, and anyone who prefers to take theme parks at a slower pace. You can start the day with early park entry, retreat to the pool when the crowds build, and end the night watching the fountain show from bed.

Universal Studios Store in Helios Grand Hotel

Tips for Staying at the Epic Universe Hotel

Line Up Early Anyway

Even with early park entry, it’s worth lining up about 45 minutes before gates open. The Helios Grand Hotel has its own entrance, but you’re still competing with the thousands of other parkgoers waiting at the main entrance who will enter at the same time as you. It’s important to be at the front of the line when rope dropping.

Take a Break During the Day

One of the best perks of staying inside the park is being able to step away whenever you need to. Epic Universe is large but manageable, and with a Fast Pass, you can easily experience everything in a single day. If you plan to take advantage of early park admission and still want to see the park lit up at night, head back to your room for a few hours in the afternoon to rest and recharge. It makes a huge difference!

Don’t Miss the Fountain Show

The fountain has mini shows throughout the day, but they are nothing compared to the show at 10 p.m. each night! The massive fountain and light show put on each night is a must-see, whether you watch from inside the park, from the hotel’s rooftop bar, or from the comfort of your room.

Understand the Layout Before Entering the Park

When you first arrive, take a few minutes to look out over the park from your room or the rooftop bar. You can see where each portal entrance is located, which makes it easier to navigate once you’re on the ground. It’s the simplest way to get your bearings before heading out.

Make Reservations at Bar Helios

Bar Helios is the rooftop lounge at the Helios Grand Hotel, and it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular spots in the park. It’s hard to get a table here without a reservation, so be sure to snag one for sunset cocktails or a late-night drink after the fountain show — the views are incredible (unless you have a park-facing room, which will offer similar views). Just be warned, the menu is tasty but expensive!

Honest Review of the Epic Universe Hotel

We absolutely loved our stay at the Helios Grand Hotel and wouldn’t dream of staying anywhere else when visiting Epic Universe. The hotel feels new (well, it is), modern, and unique. Maybe even a little bit futuristic, but still warm and comfortable.

The Service

The service at the Helios Grand Hotel is everything you’d hope for from Universal’s flagship property. Every staff member we met was warm, helpful, and genuinely excited to share tips about the park. You can pick up your Express Pass tickets right in the lobby and chat with the concierge about which rides to hit first.

The Rooms

The rooms are spotless, modern, and beautifully designed. Everything feels fresh and high-end without being over the top. Each room has a bedside tablet that controls the lights, curtains, and temperature, plus a smart TV with streaming options and a mini fridge for your own drinks or snacks. The bed is cozy, the bathroom is spacious with great water pressure, and the soundproofing is excellent — no paper-thin walls here. It’s quiet, comfortable, and exactly what you want after a long park day.

The Amenities

The hotel has everything you need: a sit-down restaurant, a rooftop bar, 24-hour room service, and a small market for quick snacks and water. There’s valet parking, a concierge desk, a Universal Studios Store in the lobby, early park entry, and free shuttles to the other Universal parks.

The Restaurants

The hotel’s main restaurant, Flora Taverna, has gotten mixed reviews, but we loved everything we ordered from room service. The food was fresh, flavorful, and arrived quickly, which isn’t always the case at large resorts. If you prefer a livelier scene, head up to Bar Helios for cocktails and small plates with a view. The plates are expensive, but the food is truly incredible. We will never forget the scallop dish we ordered here!

The Price

There’s no denying this is an expensive hotel, but it delivers on the experience. Between the location, design, and exclusive park access, we thought the value was absolutely worth it — especially for a park-facing room. Sitting by the window at night and watching the park light up below felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Location

The location couldn’t be better. The hotel is less than 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport and has a dedicated drop-off area and parking lot for anyone driving in. The front faces the city, while the back opens directly into Epic Universe, so you can easily come and go even on days you don’t have park tickets. It’s the best of both worlds — easy access for travelers and direct connection for park guests.

Is the Epic Universe Hotel Worth It?

Absolutely. The Helios Grand Hotel is hands-down worth the splurge if you’re planning to visit Epic Universe. Between the private park access, early entry, and the ability to see the park and watch the fountain show right from your room, the experience feels a step above anything else in Orlando.

The location alone makes it special — being able to walk straight into the park from your hotel is something no other property in the area can match. If you’re the kind of traveler who values comfort, convenience, and an elevated experience, the Epic Universe Hotel is absolutely worth it. For us, it turned a fun theme park trip into a high-end getaway, and we can’t imagine doing it any other way.

Epic Universe Park Guide

We think Epic Universe is easier to navigate than the other Universal parks. The portal entrances are huge and visible from almost anywhere, so it’s always easy to find your way to the next world. There aren’t as many rides here, but the ones that exist are so well done that you’ll want to ride them more than once. And the food? Surprisingly amazing. Epic is the first theme park we’ve visited where the dining is truly worth talking about.

The Layout

Epic Universe is designed like a circle with a central hub. The hub is open and energetic, and each portal around the perimeter leads into a completely different world. Once you enter a portal, you’re fully inside that world with no shortcuts to the others. It’s smart to finish exploring everything inside one portal before moving on. This keeps you from constantly walking back through the hub and gives you a more immersive experience.

The Worlds and Rides

The main entrance to Epic Universe is itself a portal, and it leads directly into Celestial Park, the central hub of the entire park. This is where you’ll find the fountain show, restaurants, live music, the Stardust Racers coaster, and, most importantly, the entrances to all four worlds. You enter one portal to get into the park, then choose another portal to step into the world you want to explore.

Every world has at least one major ride, along with smaller attractions and interactive areas that are easy to overlook if you rush. The ride lineup is a great balance of thrills and storytelling, and each one feels like you’ve stepped right into that universe.

Celestial Park

Celestial Park is the least crowded because it only features one major ride, and it’s mostly used as a means to get from one portal to another. That said, it does have the most thrilling roller coaster in the park called Stardust Racers. You’ll also find the only restaurants in the park that take reservations here, including the popular Atlantis Restaurant. All the portal doors, restaurants, and Helios Grand Hotel form a circle around a large circular fountain.

Celestial Park Rides

Stardust Racers — A high-speed dual launch coaster that reaches over 60 mph with big drops and plenty of twists. It’s fast, smooth, and a major highlight of the hub.
Constallation Carousel — A beautifully designed carousel featuring mythical creatures and dreamy music. The seats move independently without being attached to the ceiling, which makes the motion feel more fluid and magical as the platform rotates.

Super Nintendo World

This is the land that made us feel like kids again! It truly looks and sounds like the game come to life, and the portal entrance is our favorite in the park. Just know there are a lot of stairs because the land is built across three levels, and even the queues require some climbing.

There are three rides here. The theming is incredible, but the attractions themselves didn’t quite match the hype we had going in. We were still glad we experienced the world in full because the design and details are amazing, even if the rides were a bit underwhelming.

Super Nintendo World Rides

Donkey Kong: Mine-Cart Madness — A fast-paced coaster that uses a unique track design to make it feel like you’re jumping over gaps in the rails, just like in the game. It’s a fun mix of thrills and clever effects, but it’s very very short! It’s over in less than a minute.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge — A highly themed interactive ride where you join Team Mario and “race” through iconic courses while aiming shells at opponents. It’s chaotic in a good way, though the visuals can feel a little overwhelming.
Yoshi’s Adventure — A gentle, family-friendly ride that offers great views of the land from above. It’s more of a slow loop track than a ride, actually, but it offers great views of the land.

How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk

This world is all about the Viking village from How to Train Your Dragon. It’s rugged, charming, and full of energy, with dragons swooping overhead and coastal details that make you feel like you’re living alongside the characters. Even if you’ve never seen the movies, this land will transport you to a magical place.

Isle of Berk Rides

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders — A smooth coaster-style ride that makes you feel like you’re flying beside the dragons. It has enough speed and swooping motion to be exciting without being too intense for non-thrill-seekers. This was one of our favorite rides in the park.
Dragon Racer’s Rally — A spinning aerial ride with more of a carnival ride vibe. It’s simple and quick, but the views of the Isle of Berk from the top are incredible.
Frye Drill — A family-friendly water ride themed around dragon training. You’ll help put out small “fires” along the course, and you might get a little wet. This is more of an interactive experience than a ride.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic

Rather than recreating a school campus again, this land takes you right into the heart of the wizarding government. The architecture is elaborate and instantly recognizable, and the atmosphere is more mysterious and mature than the other Wizarding Worlds. It’s a place where fans will geek out over every detail, but even casual visitors will appreciate how cinematic the entire experience feels.

Ministry of Magic Rides

Harry Potter And The Battle At The Ministry — The signature (and only) attraction in this land, this dark ride combines physical sets, screen effects, and motion to drop you straight into the chaos of the wizarding world. It’s intense, immersive, and one of the best rides Universal has ever created. But the best part might just be the queue! We’ve never felt more ‘inside’ the Wizarding World than waiting in line for this ride.

Dark Universe

This land celebrates Universal’s classic monsters with a moody, gothic style that sets it apart from the rest of the park. It’s darker and more dramatic, but not so scary that you’ll want to skip it. The theming is fantastic — foggy streets, old stone structures, and a storyline that feels like you’ve stumbled into a suspenseful movie. It’s a refreshing change of pace.

Dark Universe Rides

Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment — A dark ride with impressive sets and special effects that put you right in the middle of a classic monster breakout. Thrilling, spooky, and story-driven without being too scary for someone who doesn’t love horror.
Curse Of The Werewolf — A spinning coaster with a gothic vibe. It has quick turns and fun surprises, making it a solid mid-level thrill that fits the theme perfectly.

The Food

The themed dining at Epic Universe blew us away. In the Isle of Berk world, you’ll absolutely want to try the mac & cheese bread cones at Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel. The whole park will be talking about them, trust us. In Dark Universe, you’ll find Hunter’s Garlic Stake (a sword-shaped garlic bread with garlic dipping sauce) at the Burning Blade Tavern — a must for garlic lovers. Over in Nintendo World, the Toadstool Café is worth your time just for the immersive design alone. Then in Celestial Park (the central hub), you’ll find proper full-service restaurants where you can make a reservation, slow down, and actually enjoy a meal after a long day on your feet.

Celestial Park (Central Hub)

Atlantic (Full Service Restaurant)
The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant (Full Service)
The Oak & Star Tavern (Quick Service/Tavern)
Pizza Moon (Quick Service)
Frosty Moon (Quick Service – Ice Cream)
Comet Dogs (Quick Service – Hot Dogs)
Star Sui Bao (Quick Service – Asian Snacks)
Bar Zenith (Bar & Lounge)
The Plastered Owl (Bar/Quick Service)
CelesTiki (Quick Service Bar)

Super Nintendo World

Toadstool Cafe (Quick Service Restaurant)
The Bubbly Barrel (Quick Service – Drinks/Snacks)
Yoshi’s Snack Island (Quick Service)
Turbo-Boost Treats (Quick Service)

How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

Mead Hall (Restaurant / Quick Service)
Spit Fyre Grill (Quick Service)
Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel (Quick Service / Bar)

Dark Universe

Das Stakehaus (Quick Service / Themed Steakhouse)
The Burning Blade Tavern (Tavern / Quick Service)
De Lacey’s Cottage (Quick Service Stand)

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic

Café L’air De La Sirène (Quick Service Restaurant)
Le Gobelet Noir (Quick Service / Tavern Style)
Bar Moonshine (Bar / Quick Service)

The Shows

Epic Universe has two main shows that run all day. One is in the Isle of Berk and the other is in the Wizarding World. You don’t need to schedule your whole day around them, but they’re worth watching if you stumble into one. The Untrainable Dragon, in particular, really brings Isle of Berk to life.

The Untrainable Dragon — This show is impressive. Live vocalists, massive animated dragons, sweeping scenery, and effects, it felt like a big production meant for adults as much as kids. Serious Broadway vibes. The show lasts about 20 minutes.
Le Cirque Arcanus — A live entertainment experience inspired by the Wizarding World’s magical traveling circus. The show blends illusions, costumes, and storytelling to bring “Fantastic Beasts” energy to life — a suitcase full of magical creatures and all. The show is standing-room-only and lasts about 10 minutes.

Final Thoughts: Epic Universe and the Helios Grand Hotel

Epic Universe is a dream come true for anyone who grew up loving Nintendo, dragons, monsters, magical worlds, or the idea of portal hopping. It’s creative, immersive, and refreshingly easy to navigate. The rides are a blast, the food is shockingly good for a theme park, and the fountain show alone is worth hanging around for after dark.

But what really made our trip unforgettable was staying at the Epic Universe Hotel: Helios Grand. Having the park right outside our window and the freedom to come and go whenever we wanted took all the stress out of the day. Add the tech-forward rooms, great service, and those late-night views of the fountains from our room, and it felt like a luxury vacation that just happened to include a theme park.

If you want the best possible way to experience Epic Universe — especially as adults — the Helios Grand Hotel is absolutely the way to go. This combination of high-end hotel perks and world-class theme park fun is something we’ll be talking about for a long time, and we already can’t wait to go back.

Thank you for reading our post! We hope it helps you plan the perfect trip! Check out our other guides here and follow us on Instagram (@AntisocialTourist) or on Facebook to see our latest adventures!