Universal Epic Universe, the first new major theme park in the United States in over 20 years,opened its doors on May 22, and fans are thrilled at the epic scale of the multi-billion-dollar experience. But with all of the fanfare and attention the park is getting, unless you're willing to spend multiple days at the park, chances are you won't be able to hit every ride and attraction and also have time to try the delicious food offerings. Related:I Ate My Way Through Universal Epic Universe, Here's What You Can't Miss When You Go I visited Epic Universe ahead of its opening as part of a press preview, and as a result, I rode every ride and visited every attraction, most of them twice. Here are my rankings of the rides in each world, from the ones you'll want to ride again to the ones you should skip if you're short on time. Celestial Park is more than just the entry point to Universal Epic Universe, it's a land all on its own, with lush gardens and dazzling water features, as well as a variety of rides and dining options. Let's start off with a high point: this is the best roller coaster I've ever been on. This dual-launch coaster reaches 62 miles per hour, jetting you up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track. There's an inverted crisscross, and if you liked Dueling Dragons or the VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure, you'll love this thrilling ride and want to go on it again. If you're brave, ask to go in the front row as it's worth it for the added adrenaline rush. Don't skip this kid-friendly ride if you're on an adults-only visit, as it's breathtakingly beautiful. Ride the constellations in carriages inspired by the zodiac, and spin 360 degrees as you're lifted up to six feet in the air. Don't forget to look skyward, as the carriages aren't the only visually stunning part of the ride. The Ministry of Magic is set in London in theHarry Potteruniverse, but the world at Epic Universe is set in 1920s Paris, with intricate details and beautiful architecture that genuinely feels like you've been transported to another time and place. This is the ride you absolutely cannot miss when you visit Epic Universe. You enter through a Floo powder tunnel (if you know, you know) into the majestic grand hall of the Ministry of Magic. You'll truly feel like you're in the movies, down to seeing the giant statues and larger-than-life setting before flowing through a queue that takes you through the ministry's offices. You then hop aboard an elevator and help Harry, Ron, and Hermione save the day as the elevator goes up, down, and side to side amid stunning visuals. If you liked Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, you'll love this ride, but even if you're not familiar with the books or movies, the technological advancements you'll see on this ride are worth the long lines. Fire-breathing dragons and Vikings coexist peacefully in this park inspired by the hit series. It's a little silly, very cute, and a lot of fun even if you haven't seen the movies. Soar above the Isle of Berk and skim the water on this old-school coaster that's themed to theHow to Train Your Dragonanimated movies. No upside-down flips or spins on this ride, so it's kid-friendly for older children (if they liked Hagrid's Motorbike, they can handle this ride), but you'll still have a rush of adrenaline on the coaster. I loved it so much I rode it three times! If you're scared of heights, skip this ride. If you love them, then you'll wish it was longer, because it takes you high up into the sky, spinning you around and swooping you back down as if you're riding a dragon above the Isle of Berk. You can control your spin via handles on the wings, but it takes a minute to get the hang of it, and by the time you do, the ride is over. Very fun, but skip it if you're low on time and the line is long, as the ride feels very short in comparison to other rides in the park. Prepare to get soaked on this interactive boat battle, where you move around a track and shoot water cannons at targets and other boats. If you're trying to cool off from being in the hot Florida sun, or you're with little ones who couldn't go on Wing Gliders or Dragon Racer's Rally, go for it, but otherwise, this one is a skip. To quote the most famous plumber in the world, "Here we go!" The most visually dazzling of the parks at Epic Universe takes you into popular Nintendo video games, from Mario Kart to Donkey Kong. If you like playing Mario Kart, you'll love this game. You're put in a car with three other riders, and you work together to steer yourselves on a track that takes you through iconic courses from the popular video game. Move your head to aim at your targets (Princess Peach, Luigi, and friends make appearances) via special goggles and shoot them with koopa shells that you accumulate along the way. Note that there's a decent amount of spinning, so proceed with caution if you're prone to motion sickness. This ride is kid-friendly for older children, but prepare to be jostled as you move along the track in your mine cart. Parts of the track have gaps, and you'll feel like you're jumping over them, but you'll be too busy having fun to worry, especially since every twist and turn has fun new Easter eggs for Donkey Kong fans to spot as they make their way through the ride. This ride features zero thrills, as it's a level track that loops you around different Mushroom Kingdom landscapes. The interactive ride helps you find different hidden, colored eggs along the track, which is perfect for keeping little kids engaged, and the panoramic views of Super Nintendo World are very cool, but the ride gets boring a few seconds in. Skip it unless your heart is set on riding every ride in the park or you have small children in tow. This interactive attraction requires a Power-Up band and a decent amount of time spent exploring Super Nintendo World before you can enter. To qualify, you'll need to collect three virtual keys through mini-game challenges scattered throughout the world. Once acquired, you can walk up to the entry of the lair on the upper level of the world and scan your Power-Up band to get inside. There, you play a game where you face a wall and, using your shadow, jump up and down, duck, and move your arms to swipe away bombs and swing fireballs at Bowser Jr. in order to defeat him. The mini-games are fun, and the shadow game is cute, but standing in line to play and successfully win the keys takes time. I also don't love that it's cost-prohibitive, as attendees will need to separately purchase Power-Up bands in order to participate. If you're going with a family, that adds up quickly, and Super Nintendo World is just as fun without a Power-Up band or this secret attraction. Legendary monsters prowl the twisted landscape ofthe spookiest part of Epic Universe, where myth and science collide for a truly eerie world. Do not miss this ride, as it makes the long lines and entry ticket to the park worth every penny. On the ride, you visit a spooky castle where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein is following her ancestor's legacy, this time trying to control monsters like Dracula and the Wolf Man. But they don't love being chained up, and as you get onto the ride, they escape, and chaos ensues. You'll spin around and get flipped onto your back, but more than anything, you'll get scared multiple times by the larger-than-life monsters as they seek their revenge. This ride truly shows what the future of theme parks can be, and is worth riding twice so you can pay attention to all of the intricate details peppered throughout. An old-school roller coaster with a twist, this ride spins as you weave through a forest to escape a pack of werewolves. It's fun and fast, but the second time I rode it, the ride broke down. While they fixed it in less than five minutes and restarted the ride for a strong finish, it doesn't bode well that a brand-new roller coaster was already having issues ahead of the park's opening. I'd ride it again, but just like Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney's Magic Kingdom, carve out extra time in case it gets stuck. Next:Coca-Cola Has Three New Exclusive Sodas at Universal Epic Universe and I Tried Them All All the Rides at Universal Epic Universe, Including the Secret Attraction, Rankedfirst appeared on Parade on May 25, 2025
