Debating to Epic Universe or not in 2025

[glamdring269]

Hey all, I'm sure this is maybe a question others are battling so just thought I'd throw it out there to see how others are considering it. Basically we had already planned this trip assuming we would not go to Epic but I've kind of cooked up something that I think might work for us.

Hotel: Portofino Bay for 2 nights
2 Adults, 0 kids

Thursday: Arrival date (from WDW, we'll arrive early) - Hit the legacy parks, leverage the express pass to ride basically everything. If Hagrid's is still not EP in October 2025 we'll still find a way to ride it (unless it's down) --- One of us will be doing HHN RIP Tour this night

Friday: The HHN person will likely be up later than the other but we'll basically knock the legacy parks out again today.

Saturday: This is where our debate has started to form. Option 1 is what we traditionally do. Option 2 is what is being considered.

Sat Opt 1: Hit the legacy parks again in the morning, fly out early afternoon.

Sat Opt 2: Head to Epic universe as early as available tells us is necessary for most efficient Rope Drop strat since I'm assuming there will be no express pass linked to Portofino. Move the flight to evening and rock out as much as we can at Epic. We might even just buy EP for Epic if data tells us it will be needed. I just hate doing that when I know we would have it for "free" at the legacy parks because of Portofino.

Anyone else been thinking about this type of scenario?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

IME "evening" flights mean you are still leaving the parks mid-afternoon at best. You might consider doing Epic the Friday instead, so you've got all day & the option to hop in a line right before closing. Have your HHN person do a lighter day Thursday before their HHN tour (generally, a full park day blending into a full-on HHN is an exhausting proposition regardless). That also gives you Sat AM to get in the EE line for Hagrids, if you missed it on Thursday.

Or, get a Sun flight if possible, and spend the Sat night somewhere cheaper than Portofino.

 

[Skippyboo]

I would try to do Friday at Epic since you have the whole day. They have 3 day tickets packages that include an Epic day.

 

[glamdring269]

The only issue with Friday is that I really like to stay late during HHN. The last two trips I stayed until they kicked me out. Which means making RD at Epic will be rough and have a feeling we’re going to want that advantage if we can get it. I do agree that Epic on Friday makes the most sense on paper though. Maybe I won’t do an all nighter at hhn this trip.

On the other hand, our flight would be either 7 or 830pm. We don’t check bags. I would think it should not be a problem to do a pretty long day at epic and make an 830pm flight, right?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Flying out 8:30pm would help for sure. I personally plan a minimum of 90min at MCO because you never know what kind of backup security might have. So butt in car another 20+min before that, means leaving Epic 6:30pm at the latest, or more likely giving it a bit more wiggle room and heading out of Epic by 6pm.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

IMO the ticket price is just too high to be leaving at basically 6pm at the latest and that is assuming no flight changes happen between now and then.

 

[tony67]

IMO the ticket price is just too high to be leaving at basically 6pm at the latest and that is assuming no flight changes happen between now and then.

Yeah totally agree if you are going to Epic I think you really need to have a full day at Epic no matter what. There is a lot there its its most likely going to be busy and getting a ticket is such a PITA.

Personally, I don't think I'll bother until its part of an AP, but if I was going I'd stay at the cheapest Universal Hotel I could get.

 

[Minnie1222]

I would go to Epic if you're not planning to return to Orlando later this year.

 

[glamdring269]

Do you all think we would need a full day at Epic even if we bought EP for the day? Rope drop + EP + leave the park around 5 seems like we could get a lot done. Probably need more data that we'll get once the park opens in order to know this answer for sure.

The other option is to stay another night. What are the logistics like when changing from one Uni hotel to another on-site Uni hotel? Will they move the bags or do we need to take care of that? The most important thing for efficiency I think is to ensure we have a good RD spot so just trying to think through any obstacles to that.

 

[tony67]

Do you all think we would need a full day at Epic even if we bought EP for the day? Rope drop + EP + leave the park around 5 seems like we could get a lot done. Probably need more data that we'll get once the park opens in order to know this answer for sure.

The other option is to stay another night. What are the logistics like when changing from one Uni hotel to another on-site Uni hotel? Will they move the bags or do we need to take care of that? The most important thing for efficiency I think is to ensure we have a good RD spot so just trying to think through any obstacles to that.

As I understand it if you are at a Deluxe (like Portofino) they will move your bags to another hotel.
That said - I've never actually tried that - but yeah moving the bags is a PITA no doubt.
I'm sure someone who has done that can chime in.

Having express would help no doubt - but as you say until it opens and we have more data its hard to say for sure.
What rides you plan to do also might be a factor - like if your are not going to do some of the coasters.

The other consideration is downtime - Monsters Unchained may still have issues and be down half the day or even all day - hard to say until the parks open and we see how it goes.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If you are going from an EP resort to another resort, they are likely to transfer the bags for you - you will pick them up at the luggage desk of your destination resort. If you are starting from a non-EP resort, they have luggage desks for storage but they will not transfer for you.

Luggage transfer was hit and miss at best during Covid, but I was seeing several people saying they were successful since then. They moved mine no problem from Royal Pacific to Surfside this Jan. I haven't heard people being denied recently but you never know. Worst case, you Uber over with it.

Since it'd be your check-out day from Portofino, you would be able to use your Portofino room key for your early entry, which would eliminate the need to stop by the other resort before heading to Epic in the morning.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

You may want to double check if the hotel will transfer your luggage. I believe the UUOP mentioned all hotels discontinued this recently.
Edit: My internet search confirms this has indeed been discontinued.

Too bad. I like to do a split stay from time to time, and see it becoming more common with the opening of Epic.

 

[Lewisc]

I was told last week that Helios will transfer luggage to PBH.

 

[Minnie1222]

The other option is to stay another night. What are the logistics like when changing from one Uni hotel to another on-site Uni hotel? Will they move the bags or do we need to take care of that? The most important thing for efficiency I think is to ensure we have a good RD spot so just trying to think through any obstacles to that.

It would be great if you could stay another night, preferably at Helios Grand. You can use their dedicated entrance to bypass the mass.

 

[Skippyboo]

The Epic Express doesn’t cover all the rides. The ministry of magic, mine cart in Mario land and one of rides in Berk. The ministry could easily have a 2+ hour line

 

[glamdring269]

It would be great if you could stay another night, preferably at Helios Grand. You can use their dedicated entrance to bypass the mass.

Do you know if this perk works on check in day? I thought about this but it would only benefit us on the Saturday and that is the day we’d check in. I’d just get an uber and haul the bags over super early to ensure we have a good spot in line there.

The Epic Express doesn’t cover all the rides. The ministry of magic, mine cart in Mario land and one of rides in Berk. The ministry could easily have a 2+ hour line

Yeah this would be the reason for understanding rope drop data points as they come available. We have no problem getting up as early as needed to be basically at the front of rd. I guess I was hoping a combo of this plus EP could help us knock it out in a day.

Ultimately we might just wait until next trip, maybe we’ll do a universal-only one in 2026.

 

[Minnie1222]

Do you know if this perk works on check in day? I thought about this but it would only benefit us on the Saturday and that is the day we’d check in. I’d just get an uber and haul the bags over super early to ensure we have a good spot in line there.

It has to work! You're a paying guest and the hotel is aware that guests can arrive at anytime. We should also see reports coming later this month when the hotel opens.

Besides, I often see luggage-free guests rushing into the premier hotels very early in the morning for the room cards (aka Express Pass). No issues there.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

I was told last week that Helios will transfer luggage to PBH.

The Admin for the US & EU Facebook page on Feb 23:
"Luggage transportation between Universal Orlando Resort hotels has been discontinued effective today."

I'd have a back up plan. It's possible the person you spoke to wasn't aware of the change.

 

[Lewisc]

Backup is to use ride share, same way I'm getting from MCO to Helios.

Is that an official Universal Facebook site.

 

[fatmanatee]

I don't know if that's legit news but that is definitely not an official Universal FB page.