Part 1: Hotels, Harry Potter, Celestial Park + Line Tips
Part 2: Dark Universe, Super Mario, Berk and Food Finds
In Part 1 of this episode episode, I’m joined by Chad Pennycuff of the My DVC Points podcast to break down everything you need to know about Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe — starting with where to stay, what to skip and how to save. I share my experiences attending the Grand Opening event for media.
We also recap Chad’s incredible theme park tour across Asia, including Shanghai Disney, Universal Beijing, Tokyo Disney and more. Hear what Disney is doing next level overseas and how it compares to the new Epic Universe experience.
Then we shift to:
- Hotel options at Epic (including pros/cons of Stella Nova, Terra Luna & the ultra-pricey Helios Grand)
- A deep dive into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic — the ride, the land, the queue and the details you don’t want to miss
- Tips on wait times, Express Pass strategy, early entry and how to use points to cover your Universal trip
- What we loved (and didn’t) about Celestial Park and its headline coaster, Stardust Racers
In Part 2, we dive deeper into Universal Orlando’s brand-new theme park: Epic Universe — and there’s so much more to explore! After attending the Grand Opening event for media, I share my insight on the parks along with Chad’s an Orlando local and “theme park junkie.”
Part 2 covers:
- 🍕 The best food in the park (hello, truffle pizza, mango cornbread & that Frankenstein pretzel)
- 🧛♂️ The incredible Dark Universe land featuring Universal Monsters — and why Monsters Unchained might be the most underrated ride in the park
- 🐉 Chad’s favorite land, Isle of Berk (How to Train Your Dragon), plus the family-friendly Hiccup’s Wing Gliders and must-see live show
- 🎢 What we thought of Donkey Kong: Mine Cart Madness, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, and whether Yoshi’s Adventure is worth the wait
- 🧢 Why the Power-Up Bands matter — and how Universal turns Super Nintendo World into a real-life video game
We also share final thoughts on:
- Why this park truly is epic — and may even deserve an entire trip on its own
- Express Pass strategy
- Touring tips for different ages
See More…
- VIDEO Tour: Cabana Bay (My favorite Universal resort)
- VIDEO Tour: Stella Nova Resort at Epic Universe
- PODCAST Episode 43: Yikes! Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights: Your Guide From a Mom’s Perspective
- PODCAST Episode 111: Universal Studios Orlando 101
- PODCAST Episode 116: How Katie Blumhorst Saved $4,000+ With Travel Rewards at Universal Studios Orlando
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