Universal Epic Universe Preview Dates & Tickets; Helios Grand Hotel Opening Early!
With the first media event over and employee previews having been underway for over a month, Universal Orlando is now moving forward with previews of Epic Universe and the early debut of Helios Grand Hotel, over one month before the official opening of the new theme park over Memorial Day weekend. This covers dates & details for scoring tickets along with our commentary about attending soft openings.
Let’s start with the previews. Universal has opened the online queue for Universal Orlando Annual Passholders to purchase tickets for Universal Epic Universe previews before the new theme park’s grand opening date of May 22, 2025. The queue for tickets is at this link.
As of April 9, 2025, no dates of the previews have sold out–after over 24 hours of sales. Annual Passholders are not the only ones who will be able to purchase tickets, and as Universal notes: “Additional audiences will be able to purchase tickets to preview the groundbreaking new theme park in the weeks ahead.”
Here are April 2025 ticket prices for the UOAP previews of Universal Epic Universe:
- April 17, 2025: $144
- April 18, 2025: $144
- April 19, 2025: $144
- April 20, 2025: $144
- April 21, 2025: $140
- April 22, 2025: $140
- April 23, 2025: $140
- April 24, 2025: $140
- April 25, 2025: $136
- April 26, 2025: $136
- April 27, 2025: $131
- April 28, 2025: $123
- April 29, 2025: $123
- April 30, 2025: $123
May 2025 Epic Universe preview ticket prices:
- May 1, 2025: $123
- May 2, 2025: $127
- May 3, 2025: $131
- May 4, 2025: $127
- May 5, 2025: $123
- May 6, 2025: $123
- May 7, 2025: $123
- May 8, 2025: $123
Also according to Universal Orlando: “Preview Dates Now Available Preview Ticket dates are available starting April 17. During this Preview period, we’re putting the final touches in place and rehearsing, so some attractions and experiences may not be available.”
In addition to Annual and Seasonal Universal Orlando Passholders, active 2025 Military Freedom Pass Ticket Holders, Universal Rewards Signature VISA Card members, and guests staying at any Universal Orlando hotel can also purchase tickets to access Epic Universe during its preview period.
If preview dates don’t sell out, our expectation is that the “additional audiences” alluded to above will expand to include Florida residents next. If that still is insufficient, the general public may follow. Or perhaps there will first be a targeted stop at those who have signed up to receive communications from Universal or the Comcast family of companies.
Note that some of these guests will not be able to purchase Epic Universe tickets in advance–see the below FAQ for info about buying park tickets, modifying vacation packages, Early Entry at Epic Universe, and pretty much everything else!
UOAP preview dates for Universal Epic Universe are from April 17 to May 8, 2025. It’s possible more preview dates will be added after that, but availability will likely be less consistent. Media previews are expected in the lead-up to the official opening date, and Universal Orlando might need time to prepare for those, among other things.
Additionally, Universal Helios Grand Hotel is now open for reservations starting April 16, 2025!
If you want the pros to book Helios Grand Hotel for you or to help determine which Epic Universe packages will work best for your family, we highly recommend requesting a quote from Be Our Guest Vacations, a no-fee Universal Preferred Travel Agency.
It’s our understanding, although unpublished in writing anywhere, that Helios Grand Hotel guests will have the opportunity to purchase Universal Epic Universe tickets on a limited, first-come, first-served basis during these previews.
UPDATE:Â Universal Orlando has officially confirmed this and other details about Epic Universe previews in this FAQ:
Q: Will the entire theme park be available during the Preview/Soft Open period?
A:Â The Preview period is designed to allow guests to experience Universal Epic Universe while we put the finishing touches on the park in preparation for its official opening on May 22. While we plan to have as many experiences available as possible, please note that certain elements and attractions may not be operating during your visit. You can check for updates during your visit on the Universal Orlando Resort app.
Q: Is there a specific ticket I need to visit during the Preview period / Do I need to purchase a ticket?
A:Â Yes, Preview tickets are required to visit Epic Universe. For this initial Preview period, tickets are available for select audiences including Universal Orlando Passholders, Universal hotel guests, activated 2025 Military Freedom ticketholders, and Universal Rewards Visa Signature cardmembers.
Q: I’m a Passholder, can I change the date of my Epic Universe add-on ticket?
A: Passholders can change the date of their tickets via phone by calling (866) PASS-4-FUN or in-person at the front gate, Guest Services or Universal Vacation Planning Center desks as long as they have everyone’s Pass information available at time of purchase.
Q: I’m a 2025 Military Freedom Ticketholder, can I change the date of my Epic Universe add-on ticket?
A: Activated 2025 Military Freedom Ticketholders can change the date of their tickets via phone by calling (866) 727-7438.
Q: What are the park hours during the Preview/Soft Open period?
A:Â Park hours vary during the Preview period and can be found at:Â https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/hours-information/park-hours/epic-universe
Q: Is the park going to be open from May 9 – May 21?
A: Additional details on the Preview period from May 9 – May 21 will be available soon.
Q: Can I make a dining reservation at Atlantic or The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant?
A:Â More information on dining reservations at Epic Universe will be released soon.
Q: Will Passholder previews start soon? / When are Passholder previews?
A:Â While there will not be an exclusive Passholder preview at Epic Universe, Passholders can purchase specially priced 1-Day Universal Epic Universe Preview Tickets to experience the new park before it officially opens May 22, 2025. A specific allocation of Preview tickets will be held solely for Passholders each day.
Q: Will Passholders get any special perks at Epic Universe?
A:Â Passholders have the opportunity to experience Epic Universe before the park officially opens with the purchase of a specially priced 1-Day Universal Epic Universe Preview Ticket. Stay tuned for more details about Passholder perks at Epic Universe.
Q: Will Universal Express products be available for purchase during the Preview/Soft Open period?
A:Â Express Passes for Universal Epic Universe during the Preview period will be available for purchase at the Concierge/Guest Services kiosks inside the park. Universal Express Pass does not guarantee admission and separate theme park admission is required.
Q: Can I change my vacation package to include a Universal Epic Universe-inclusive ticket and a stay at Universal Helios Grand Hotel?
A:Â Yes, you can upgrade your previously purchased vacation package to include a Universal Epic Universe-inclusive ticket and accommodations at Universal Helios Grand Hotel for arrivals beginning April 16, 2025. Please call (877) 801-9720 for assistance.
Q: Can I change the dates of my hotel reservation?
A:Â Yes, if you booked through Universal Orlando Resort, you can update your hotel reservation by calling 888-273-1311. If you booked through a travel advisor or a third-party website, please get in touch with your booking source for modifications.
Q: I am staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel, can I purchase a Preview ticket?
A:Â Yes, guests staying at all Universal Orlando hotels will be able to purchase a Preview ticket to Universal Epic Universe at the Universal Vacation Planning Center in the hotel lobby, subject to availability.
Q: I am staying at a Universal Orlando Hotel, can I purchase a Preview ticket?
A:Â Yes, guests staying at all Universal Orlando hotels will be able to purchase a Preview ticket to Universal Epic Universe at the Universal Vacation Planning Center in the hotel lobby, subject to availability.
Q: Will Universal Express products be available for purchase during the Preview/Soft Open period?
A:Â Express Passes for Universal Epic Universe during the Preview period will be available for purchase at the Concierge/Guest Services kiosks inside the park and at the Vacation Planning Center at Universal hotels. Universal Express Pass does not guarantee admission and separate theme park admission is required. Universal Express Unlimited Passes are not available for purchase or use at Epic Universe.
Q: I am staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel on opening day (April 16), what time does the hotel open?
A:Â Universal Helios Grand Hotel will begin welcoming guests to check in on April 16 at 12PM.
Q: Can I access Epic Universe as a Helios Guest on the opening day (April 16) of the hotel?
A:Â Epic Universe will be in a technical rehearsal through April 16. Guests staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel will be able to enter Universal Epic Universe via the dedicated hotel entrance beginning at 10AM on April 17 with valid theme park admission.
Q: I am a Universal Helios Grand Hotel Guest, how can I enter Epic Universe through the front gate of the theme park?
A:Â Guests staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel will be able to enter Universal Epic Universe via the dedicated hotel entrance that can be accessed through the hotel’s lobby. Universal Helios Grand Hotel guests who wish to enter Epic Universe through the front of the park can do so by traveling via car to the park’s main entrance. Please note that parking fees may apply.
Q: Will direct transportation to Universal Epic Universe be available from all Universal Orlando hotels?
A:Â Yes, guests staying at any Universal Orlando hotel can enjoy complimentary shuttle transportation to Universal Epic Universe beginning April 17 as long as they have valid theme park admission. Guests staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel can access Universal Epic Universe via a dedicated entrance located adjacent to the lobby (valid theme park admission required).
Q: If I am a guest in a Universal Helios Grand Hotel on April 16, what can I do that day?
A:Â Guests can experience all that Universal Orlando has to offer at Universal CityWalk, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, as well as the amazing amenities and dining outlets at Universal Helios Grand Hotel. Several exciting celebratory activities will be held throughout the day, including the opportunity to meet Universal characters.
Q: I am a guest at a Universal Orlando Hotel – what exclusive theme park benefits do I receive at Epic Universe?
A:Â Guests staying at any Universal Orlando hotel can take advantage of a variety of exclusive benefits including complimentary shuttle bus transportation to the theme parks and Universal CityWalk, resort-wide charging privileges, complimentary merchandise delivery and more. Additionally, Universal Hotel guests will be able to enter Epic Universe up to one-hour prior to regular guests from April 17 through May 8 with valid theme park admission.
Q: Is Early Park Admission at Epic Universe available during the Preview period?
A:Â While Early Park Admission at Universal Epic Universe does not begin until May 23, 2025, Universal Hotel guests can enter the park up to one-hour prior to regular guests from April 17 through May 8 with valid theme park admission.
Q: I am staying at a non-Universal hotel. Will direct transportation to Epic Universe from my hotel be offered?
A:Â During the Preview period, buses from non-Universal hotels will drop guests off at Universal CityWalk. Guests will then have to board a separate bus for transportation to Epic Universe from CityWalk. verse from CityWalk.
Here’s a look at preview availability and pricing for Helios Grand Hotel:
Turning to commentary, this approach to previews makes sense. It allows Universal Orlando to stress-test each of the lands and Epic Universe as a whole before the grand opening, while continuing test & adjust during the overnight hours. Park operations can determine what tweaks need to be made, and get things operating smoothly–or at least as smoothly as possible for a brand-new theme park with complex attractions–before greeting hardcore tourists and theme park fans who have booked starting on May 22, 2025.
As noted above, Universal Orlando has been doing trial operations with Team Members for over a month at this point, and those previews have been extended on multiple occasions. The official party line for the extensions was to give employees more chances to experience the new park. The unofficial reason, I assume, was that Epic Universe wasn’t ready to greet guests in a paying capacity, even with the normal caveats about soft openings and previews.
The whole point of previews is to start small so it’s not a trial by fire situation for employees and gives them a chance to find their footing and learn on the job. As we’ve pointed out previously, Universal Orlando would need to scale up at some point to simulate a more normal guest load, as Team Members plus their friends and family wouldn’t be enough to sustain these previews indefinitely. Originally, we expected this to occur around early April. Instead, it’s happening mid-month.
One word of warning is that select attractions or entire lands could be unavailable during Epic Universe previews. The entire lands part of that is highly unlikely, as it hasn’t been the case during employee previews to date. But we nevertheless want to raise the possibility, however remote, to underscore the nature of these previews.
More likely is that certain rides will go down. In fact, we’d expect extensive downtime to be the norm as some of these attractions are incredibly complex and envelope-pushing. If you’re only going to pay to attend one preview and want to experience as much as possible, your best bet is going later in May.
Epic Universe as a whole is clearly not a race against the clock, but a few of its complex attractions have already been proving troublesome. That’s par for the course with new rides at both Walt Disney World and Universal.
One specific red flag thus far during previews of Epic Universe has been Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. It’s our understanding that this has yet to open during employee previews, and only tours of the queue have been available. Some media did have a chance to experience the attraction, but there were reportedly also issues then.
From what we’ve heard through the grapevine, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is operational…but not at full capacity. Rather than trying to operate it during employee previews, Universal has opted to continue making adjustments to get the ride closer to running at full tilt.
Honestly, what was described to me makes Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry sound very much like the opening months of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in terms of its downtime and reliability. I similarly would not be the least bit surprised if this isn’t resolved until much later in the year.
I also would not be surprised if Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is not open during public previews. Or if it is open, but uses a virtual queue to manage capacity and pulse guests through the queue, rather than having paying guests endure lengthy downtime. I also wouldn’t be surprised if this approach extends to the official opening and beyond.
Although not nearly as problematic, we’ve also heard of issues with Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Either that it breaks down or has non-working effects, which then results in downtime. Friends who have attended Team Member previews have also reported a variety of other attractions breaking down on a less consistent and predictable basis.
To be abundantly clear, none of this is criticism of Universal. Heck, we’re much more critical of Walt Disney World opening Tiana’s Bayou Adventure–a reimagined ride–in non-working condition. This is a brand-new theme park with envelope pushing attractions. Reliability woes and downtime are simply the nature of the beast.
We’re bringing this to your attention so you can plan accordingly. It’s probably a wise idea to budget multiple days to Epic Universe if you want to experience everything (minus maybe Battle at the Ministry) during previews. If you don’t want to endure breakdowns, perhaps previews are not for you. Going in August or September might be the better option!
On the other hand, it’s always possible that problematic or pesky effects that are triggering downtime simply get disabled by then. So if you want to experience high-tech rides in their “purest” form…going as soon as possible might be the better approach. (Again, look at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, or even Indiana Jones Adventure, for that matter.)
Ultimately, there are no guarantees when it comes to previews and soft openings. We just want you to be aware of that, so you don’t jump to book something that you might regret later. While we’ve focused at length on the potential downsides, there are also upsides! One is that you’re first experiencing Epic Universe with other highly-motivated guests and hardcore fans, meaning the energy is likely to be better than some random day in August or September.
Trust me, as someone who has done several previews and opening days of rides, lands, and theme parks–this is something worth doing once! And you’ll probably never get another opportunity to preview another major new theme park in the United States. So even if you’re a hardcore Disney fan, you might want to consider visiting Epic Universe during the preview.
Another upside is that previews are still likely to be viewed as trial operations, meaning that Universal Orlando will continue capping attendance well below actual park capacity through the remainder of April and into May 2025. Our expectation is that the cap will progressively increase as park operations finds its footing, so expect crowds to gradually increase over the course of previews. However, that should go hand-in-hand with efficiency and reliability. The bottom line is that this should be a great opportunity to experience Epic Universe before the general public!
Need trip planning tips and comprehensive advice for your visit to Central Florida? Make sure to read our Universal Orlando Planning Guide for everything about Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Also check out our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for everything about those parks, resorts, restaurants, and so much more.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you be attending Epic Universe previews? Excited for Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter’s Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe/Classic Monsters, or the How to Train Your Dragon lands and/or attractions? Think Epic Universe will be a third gate that’s a worthy addition to Universal Orlando Resort…and potentially on par with Disney’s best lands? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!
How likely do you think it might be that they would extend this past May 8th. We want to go so bad but can’t make it work until after the 9th.
Is there any way to know when Universal tickets may be close to selling out for particular dates? Disney has their park reservation calendar which shows green for available, yellow for almost sold out, etc. Does Universal have anything similar? We’re considering buying tickets during Christmas break and we want to make sure we don’t wait too long before tickets sell out. Thanks for any thoughts!
Apparently as of 4/9 all Credit Card tickets were sold out. Guess they included them to get more credit card users, but no one who applied for a CC after the announcement even had a chance of getting preview tickets. It’s ridiculous considering that most days are still available for APs.
We’re waiting for the Universal credit card to arrive. We actually have a single day ticket in June, but there’s a number to call to change to a preview ticket. Pros: previewing a new park, better weather and potentially lower crowds. Cons: more likely to have ride closures that last all day, Disney tickets are more expensive in May, cutting into any savings we get from the preview tickets being cheaper than our June tickets.
I can’t make it there for the current preview dates. Thoughts on booking a room at Helios when preview dates aren’t open (after May 8th but before May 21st) in the hopes the preview is extended? Odds they won’t be selling tickets to hotel guests for epic during those days?
Does anyone know if April 17 and 18 tickets are still available or if those days are sold out? Thanks in advance!
Steve I am having the exact same issue, was it the 866-7277-4386 number that linked your AP and sold you the Epic Preview ticket?
3 hours on hold later I can confirm that is the number and I was able to book a ticket!!!
Good morning Tom,
Do you think AP will get free parking? I am honestly disappointed that soft previews aren’t half price or anything. I am not sure as well I understand about express passes. It seems to me that these are during park previews for park previews? These will likely have the same restrictions are normal EP after opening I would also assume (as in not including the three ride exclusions)? They honestly seem a bit lacking in their decisions. Another question I have, is will all rides be available during EPA for previews? It’s funny to me Helios is on the opposite side of the park as EPA rides (Other than Stardust) and doesn’t include express passes. Considering when I have stayed at Loew’s Hotels before they are dirty, I now need to cancel Helios because it won’t be new.
Finally, what do you think hours will be for post May 21? Universal has stated they can’t stay open as long as Disney because they are in a residential neighborhood. Crazy to me the kids centered company has MK open until 11 like 300+ days/year.
Just booked 2 nights at Helios. So are they really not going to let Helios guests book EU tickets until we actually arrive at the hotel? Shouldn’t a Helios reservation guarantee EU tix since its literally the hotel in the park?
First I find out that the Easter Week blackout was removed from the Military Freedom ticket, now this! We’re probably not lucky enough to get down Sunday and get our tickets activated before previews sell out, but who knows? Best of luck everyone!
Hey Tom! I notice it says that the tickets are “subject to availability” for hotel guests. If you stay at the Grand Helios, do you think it’s likely you won’t get a ticket to Epic Universe during the preview? Thank you!
“Another upside is that previews are still likely to be viewed as trial operations, meaning that Universal Orlando will continue capping attendance well below actual park capacity through the remainder of April and into May 2025.”
I hope so! Thanks to your notifications, I snagged preview tickets for the family while we are in Orlando. So glad that the timing of our visit dovetailed with the previews.
Super excited. As you said, being able to preview an entire theme park is a rare experience. Experiencing it with less crowds due to capped attendance is the icing on the cake.
And, as you suggested, I bought tickets for 2 days so that we could experience as much as possible in light of potential downtime.
Hello! I’m curious, are you an annual passholder? From what I’m reading unless you are an annual passholder, you can’t purchase the preview tickets until you are there, which seems risky to me. Just making sure I’m not missing something! Thanks!
Hi, yes we bought annual passes for our trip last spring when they were offering the annual pass with an extra 3 months free. So we are using them again for this year’s vacation and was able to buy the preview tickets. Just by luck we are staying at Cabana Bay for 3 nights before we relocate and will hopefully be able to gain the 1 hour early entry benefit. We have premier passes which gives us the early entry at the legacy parks, but I’m not sure if that benefit conveys to Epic.
I’ve been watching Helios rates in December and it looks like they recently raised their prices? Seems like they increased about $200/night. The screenshot Tom shared seems to be the old prices, newer prices seem significantly higher.
That screenshot is from today, for April 16-19, 2025.
Universal uses dynamic pricing for hotels, meaning that your dates would be increasing because demand is higher (or there’s limited availability).
Tom, did you get invited to the recent media preview day(s)? I’m guessing the name of this blog isn’t extremely helpful in that regard, but just wondering if we’ll see a report anytime soon…or when you think you’ll first have some “on-the-ground” details for us here at DTB.
Nope. I don’t think the name of the site was the outcome-determinative factor–Universal just has a different approach to these things than Disney.
We should have coverage of Epic Universe starting shortly after these previews begin. And then again shortly after opening day. Not sure how I’m going to handle strategy stuff–I might wait until fall for some of that.
Thanks for that clarification! I’m not interested in the recent TikTok/YouTube reports full of spoilers and other nonsense, and reading some of the legacy media reports it’s clear how few of those reporters are interested in thinking/reporting critically about what they’re experiencing. This week’s CNN article relied a lot on quotes from a non-Disney source who basically guaranteed Disney would be announcing a 5th gate in Orlando in the next couple of months. *eye roll*
It may be awhile before I step foot in Epic Universe so I’m not as interested in touring strategy — really just curious about how things turned out there and want to read your informed/nuanced perspective on everything.
*correction* Just re-read the article and the source said 12-16 months, so basically announcing a 5th WDW gate at D23 2025. Still…….
Oh well if it’s 16 months, that changes everything. We’re definitely getting a 5th gate announcement by then!!1!! 😉
Seriously, though, you hit on a key difference in the type of coverage each of the theme park operators is and isn’t willing to tolerate.
I can’t wait for any Epic content you offer, Tom. I always value your opinion on attractions, and when I know your take on an attraction it helps me organize our day. We are going, for better or for worse, in August, and I’ve already warned my crew that we won’t be able to do everything in that single day. I’ve already sprung for Express Passes (thought REAL HARD about Group VIP), so we are looking forward to what is worth waiting in lines for and what can wait until next time.
Wow I REALLY hope you are right about Helios guests getting park tickets. I am DESPERATE to get some tickets for my son as we aren’t AP holders, but we are going the first week of May to Disney so I literally just grabbed 1 night at Helios on May 6 hoping against hope you are right about the tickets!! I just need to know before April 30 so I can cancel if it’s not a thing, haha. His dream is to go to Epic as soon as possible and we were locked out of the single day tickets earlier, since we weren’t AP holders so currently we can only go in July at the earliest (partially bc we are spending June in Japan). So this would basically make all his dreams come true, haha. He’s trying to avoid online spoilers and you know how that goes!
I am right about the tickets, FWIW. It’s on Universal’s website now. Updating this post…
Currently in line. Probably won’t get the dates I need but oh well. Didn’t know they were dropping these today or I would have been prepared.
Currently had a pre-existing trip for April 17-20. Also coming back from a cruise on May 12 and have a full day to kill. Guess we will see in 40 minutes. Queue says 11:38. Initially said 5:30 when I jumped in line. If we miss the previews we miss the previews as we have tickets on June 6 and 7.
I really hate these queues. I got in at 11:30am allowed and it allowed me to log into my Universl account but then put me back in the queue instead of allowing me to buy tickets. Currently in the queue again. Keeps going up.
This is so frustrating. I swear my UOAPs are linked but it keeps telling me to activate and verify. The link pops up in my account. I go through the steps it keeps cycling me through and try to link the barcodes and they say it’s already assigned to someone else.
Now it’s on pause again. I give up.
Sorry to hear that, Steve.
If it makes you feel any better, I’ve heard of others having issues. Also, all dates were still available as of ~10 minutes ago. Good luck!
Well after being on hold most of the day yesterday and getting disconnected at close last night I called them and waited another hour this morning. Finally got my APs linked properly and able to get tickets for April 18.