Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[Seltzer76]

Thx for posting! Does anyone know Can I bring a friend or do all ticket holders need to be pass holders?

 

[Smugpugmug]

Thx for posting! Does anyone know Can I bring a friend or do all ticket holders need to be pass holders?

Everyone needs to have an active annual pass.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I'm about to exit. I have tickets for 2 days, late May. No sense booking air and hotel to see part of EPIC

I did the same thing. I added up flights and a hotel and decided not to do it, especially since I'm going to London the first week of May anyway.

 

[tony67]

They have just been immensely underprepared for this from the beginning and doesn't seem like they've looked to make any improvement. I guess they figure they'll deal with the one day mess and move on, this will probably be the last big one.

Yeah - they have really frustrated me as a long time AP holder, starting with day one when they released the tickets and the site failed.



On a different topic - they have started allowing Helios bookings starting April 16th to go along with AP previews I assume.

 

[Hummingbird]

I think ap previews are live

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So pretty much I could save about $20 over the ticket I have in June ($152.15) if I go during the previews HOWEVER I see the notice about something may not be avaiable and this still being rehersals basically.

Don't think it's worth it for me, I'll just stick with my original trip.

 

[Lewisc]

I waited for about 40 minutes. Preview tickets were available for every day. No real issues.

I decided against going.

 

[GhostHost24]

I got an email saying they're allowing stays at grand Helios during the preview period

 

[fatmanatee]

So pretty much I could save about $20 over the ticket I have in June ($152.15) if I go during the previews HOWEVER I see the notice about something may not be avaiable and this still being rehersals basically.

Don't think it's worth it for me, I'll just stick with my original trip.

Yes, it should be noted that they JUST started opening up the Wizarding World ride for media previews after having rumored issues throughout the previews for employees and I'm not convinced they're in the clear there. If they feel like they need to use this time to keep working on it to make sure it's in better shape for opening day they'll do it.

 

[Minnie1222]

My wait time just went from 5:40PM to 45 minutes from now. Yay!

 

[Minnie1222]

I got an email saying they're allowing stays at grand Helios during the preview period

You're right! I just checked and it said booking available starting 04/16. Just for fun I put in 2 nights and the rates were from $366 to $1374.

Edited to add: Are you all brave enough to stay at Helios during the previews? I stayed at Disney during the post-Covid reopening and it was eeeerie with the hotel only half-opened.

 

[tony67]

You're right! I just checked and it said booking available starting 04/16. Just for fun I put in 2 nights and the rates were from $366 to $1374.

Personally, I cant see booking Helios if its more than the 3 hotels that come with express pass - I checked a few dates and it was always more than all three of the express hotels - that was AP rates.

Yeah its cool and the location is great but I'd rather have express.

Maybe if i was only doing Epic then it makes sense.

 

[mickey916]

I just played around with the idea of booking Helios for 5/10. We're already booked at Portofino Bay for 5/11. Looks like one room for 4 adults plus tax is $447. We are not APs but it looks like they "may" open up previews for hotel guests also...very tempting but overall with tickets and hotel it will add an additional $1000 to our trip. Not sure it's worth that quite yet..it is tempting though.

 

[Lewisc]

Maybe if i was only doing Epic then it makes sense.

Split stay. 1 or 2 nights at Helios. I'm hoping early entry at Helios will result in a head start. Take a hotel break and hope lines at the very end of the day are decent.

 

[hopemax]

Ugh!. I bought my ticket. But I also needed one for my Dad. I was 5 minutes from getting in on his wallet, and the line is paused! It will be a great birthday for him, if I am able to go but he can't.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Asked this on another thread before I realized I wasn't in this one

OK, never did this AP preview thing (in the same transaction) before - quick question: I bought for both my husband & I - & yes we're both passholders & both passes are aloready activated - & I can now see the tickets in my wallet on my UO account & in the mobile app. Is that what we'll use for admission (along with our physical AP cards & Photo IDs) that day? Or do I also need the Order Confirmation email? TIA - 1st time we've ever done this, LOL!

 

[hopemax]

Asked this on another thread before I realized I wasn't in this one

OK, never did this AP preview thing (in the same transaction) before - quick question: I bought for both my husband & I - & yes we're both passholders & both passes are aloready activated - & I can now see the tickets in my wallet on my UO account & in the mobile app. Is that what we'll use for admission (along with our physical AP cards & Photo IDs) that day? Or do I also need the Order Confirmation email? TIA - 1st time we've ever done this, LOL!

You can see your Epic ticket? I can't find mine, and it's freaking me out. I know I had a confirmation number, but stupidly didn't write it down, and now I'm trying to find a record of it (because I haven't gotten an email yet. I know the system could be backed up) and now I'm a little freaked out.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

You can see your Epic ticket? I can't find mine, and it's freaking me out. I know I had a confirmation number, but stupidly didn't write it down, and now I'm trying to find a record of it (because I haven't gotten an email yet. I know the system could be backed up) and now I'm a little freaked out.

Took a while - like maybe 1/2 an hour - to show up. Also received an email confimr.

 

[GhostHost24]

Asked this on another thread before I realized I wasn't in this one

OK, never did this AP preview thing (in the same transaction) before - quick question: I bought for both my husband & I - & yes we're both passholders & both passes are aloready activated - & I can now see the tickets in my wallet on my UO account & in the mobile app. Is that what we'll use for admission (along with our physical AP cards & Photo IDs) that day? Or do I also need the Order Confirmation email? TIA - 1st time we've ever done this, LOL!

They'll most likely just scan the ticket.

And just a FYI to all, this isn't technically an ap preview, it's open to other groups (including those who are staying on the resort)

 

[Kwami]

Personally, I cant see booking Helios if its more than the 3 hotels that come with express pass - I checked a few dates and it was always more than all three of the express hotels - that was AP rates.

When I was checking rates for September, Helios was cheaper than the other three. That was with normal, non-AP rates. For the week I'm looking at now, Helios is $644 less than Royal Pacific, $784 less than Hard Rock, and $929 less than Portofino.

 

[tony67]

When I was checking rates for September, Helios was cheaper than the other three. That was with normal, non-AP rates. For the week I'm looking at now, Helios is $644 less than Royal Pacific, $784 less than Hard Rock, and $929 less than Portofino.

Yeah its going to vary no doubt - I was looking at the preview dates just to get an idea.

Helios looks great and I cant wait to check out the bar - I just would not pay more for it than the hotels with express - unless we find tangible unique benefit to it - I just don't see that right now.

IMO to get the full benefit of it you really need two nights so you are not dealing with checking out or checking in on the same day you go to epic - or heading back by 11Am to check out or whatever.

Once people start staying there then we may see more value to it - and for me the price will be a big factor.