★ TABLE OF CONTENTS ★
- 00:34 Introduction
- 00:53 News
- 05:17 Trip Report Day 1 – Legacy parks
- 21:50 Trip Report Day 2 – Epic Universe
- 37:15 Trip Report Summary
- 38:20 Closing
🔥 TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO 🔥
- News
- Stella Nova
- Cosmic Café
- Universal Studios
- Islands of Adventure
- Epic Universe
- CityWalk
Show Length: 39:33
🔴 *** Follow Along ***
✅ Podcast website: https://uofanatic.com ✅ Podcast email: Podcast@UOFanatic.com ✅ X: UOFanaticPod ✅ Linktr.ee: LINK ✅ Apple Podcasts: UO Fanatic Podcast ✅ Spotify: UO Fanatic Podcast ✅ Amazon Music: UO Fanatic Podcast ✅ iHeart: UO Fanatic Podcast ✅ YouTube: UO Fanatic Podcast
News
Why the Wyatt Sicks mattered
This is more like HHN adjacent, but a tweet from Michael Aiello on twitter, I felt was worth sharing. To put this tweet into context, you have to understand that this response was after the WWE announced it had terminated the contracts of a lot of current wrestlers and among those terminations, were the remaining wrestlers that are part of the Wyatt Sicks.
- Why #thewyattsicks mattered and/or its unseen potential…
- Re-centered wrestling around character and atmosphere, not just in ring performance.
- Extended Bray Wyatt’s legacy of layered, psychological storytelling.
- Used mystery and symbolism to engage the audience actively.
- Proved slow burn narratives can work in modern WWE.
- Blended horror elements with wrestling in a more grounded, cinematic way.
- Created a distinct visual and tonal identity that stood apart from the roster. Elevated faction unity over individual spotlight.
- Opened space for performers driven by presence and character work.
- Showed that less screen time can increase perceived importance.
- Encouraged fan interpretation instead of over-explaining story lines.
- Demonstrated the value of long-term creative commitment.
- Is an example of unrealized potential due to early cancellation.
Obviously I loved this faction and what it represented and what it could have continued to contribute…
The reason I wanted to share this with you, because I feel it represents the passion and drive of the people behind the Halloween Horror Nights event. Its this passion that makes this event so special.
New HHN Merchandise
Horror Makeup Show refurbishment
Trip Report
Day 1
Flight Information
When you have a short trip like this, it only makes sense to get there as early as possible, so I booked a 6:10am JetBlue flight out of logan airport. Woke up at 4am and was out the door at 4:30am with a very talkative Uber driver. She was very nice, but cmon man its 4:30am and I haven’t had coffee yet. She dropped me off at arrivals to be sneaky and not have to go to the designated ride share lot. Which is fine by me, because that lot is very inconvenient for us passengers as well. The flight boarded on time and arrived at MCO before 9:00am. Great, uneventful flight, which is the best kind of flight. I had no checked bags, so I was getting my 2 stop Uber ride arranged as I was exiting the security area and like a boss my driver was arriving just as I was heading out the door. Stop 1 was a 7 Eleven just around the corner from Stella Nova so I could pick up beer and water. Stop 2 was the Stella Nova resort and I was here at 9:41am according to the lobby picture I took on arrival.
Stella Nova
Universal Stella Nova Resort, like all onsite hotels, is a Loews‑operated hotel. It is a space‑inspired hotel themed around galaxies, cosmic exploration, and the “infinite vastness of the universe.” It officially opened in January 2025 and adds 750 guest rooms to Universal Orlando’s hotel lineup. It has a sister resort, Terra Luna, that has the same feel and layout. It sits adjacent to Universal Epic Universe, connected by a walking path and complimentary shuttles. It also offers easy shuttle access to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and CityWalk.
Check in was a breeze and the team member was particularly welcoming. I should have gotten her name and given her a UO fist bump honestly, my bad on that because she was enjoying her job and was going above and beyond. She even gave me a breakfast voucher since she was disappointed my room wasn’t ready. She was also assuring me that even though I didn’t have any room requests, she was getting me into a great spot for the hotel. She assured me they would get that room ready for me as soon as possible.
I took that voucher and got myself some breakfast. Here is the funny part, or the dumb part, you be the judge. As soon as I ordered my breakfast, I handed the cashier my credit card and yes, I still have my free breakfast voucher to this day, expired and all. Im not always paying the attention I should right?
The Cosmos Café is a three-meal, quick service restaurant, offering American classics like burgers, paninis, fried chicken and pastas. Breakfast is from 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM, lunch 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM and dinner from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
I ordered myself a biscuit sandwich which cost $12, and had applewood smoked bacon, egg, cheddar cheese. It also included a side of breakfast potatoes. I wish I could tell you how good this was, but it was terrible if I am being honest. The biscuit was just falling apart and the entire thing was just dry and barely edible. I could have had this for free, but it felt worse knowing I paid for it.
I hadn’t received a text yet after breakfast so I started thinking maybe I shouldn’t wait for my room to be ready. I decided to check my bags with bell services but I was surprised to learn that he wouldn’t accept my beer to hold. He wasn’t nasty about it or anything, in fact he said let me call and see if I can take that. He seemed new, but I was expecting him to return from that call and say no problem, but it was the opposite. In all my years of visiting here, I have never had this issue before. I don’t know if this is a new policy or my previous visits I had them in bags so it wasn’t so obvious that it was alcohol. Anyway this did throw me off a little, and it wasn’t the team members fault, he was just doing his job. This did start to throw a wrench in my plans.
It was now about 11am and I figured lets give them an another hour on my room before I take any drastic actions. Now with the Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill being open, I could definitely find a way to distract myself for an hour. A couple of Captain and Coke’s later, that welcomed text message arrived. I went by the front desk to get new keys, and they weren’t kidding about trying to put me in a perfect spot. It was the 9th floor, a few steps from the elevator and facing Epic Universe. Room 9056, was everything anyone could have wanted at this resort. I dropped my things, and it was time to get myself over to the legacy parks.
North Campus and getting there
Just to the right of the lobby is where you will find the bus pickup location. Here you can get a bus to CityWalk and the legacy parks, Volcano Bay and Epic Universe. As I was exiting the lobby I noticed the CityWalk bus pulling away and before I could feel defeated, I saw 2 buses pulling into the lot. One of those was Epic and the other my bus to CityWalk. The bus ride lasted about 15 minutes to CityWalk, its not the distance that is a problem, but a couple of the lights outside of the dedicated bus lane can be really long depending on your timing. I think 15 minutes will be the average, or at least it has been for me so far, and I can see 20 minutes under the unluckiest light conditions.
Security was a breeze as usual, no surprises here, they definitely have all that figured out now.
Legacy Store
My first stop was to head right over to the Legacy store, I really enjoyed this store in the past and couldn’t wait to see it again. If I am being completely honest, I was slightly underwhelmed as I entered and began looking around. The previous version was definitely more of a vibe. As I started to scan about the entire store, I noticed some pretty neat photo ops and the like, and I started to see a lot of Jaws merch which is what I really enjoy. I started feeling better about it immediately. I would say if you loved the previous store, don’t go in expecting its return and you will be fine. Just manage your expectations. I took several photos of the Jaws merch so I could send it to my family so they could pick out a souvenir, and they all had something they wanted. I even picked up a new Jaws lanyard for myself. Not what I was expecting but ok, off to a good start. Now I wanted to hit up Studios. If you remember my plan from the pre trip report, I wanted to start by focusing on shows and entertainment up until when my 4pm express pass perk kicks in.
Bourne
First up was the Bourne Stuntacular. We covered this in detail in Episode 6 so let me just give a quick summary in case you haven’t listened to that episode yet. The Bourne Stuntacular is an action stunt show that uses a 3,640‑square‑foot LED screen, projection mapping, moving set pieces, and live stunt performers to create the illusion that Jason Bourne is leaping between real and digital environments. The story follows Bourne as he’s pursued across Dubai, Tangier, and Virginia, featuring rooftop chases, motorcycle pursuits, fistfights, gunfire, and explosions. Be sure to check out my previous episode if you want more information on this breathtaking stunt show. As always I enjoyed it very much. I used my usual method of just hanging back and it got me a seat in the last row about the middle, which in my opinion is the perfect spot.
Blues Brothers
I looked up show times for the Blues Brothers and it was about 20 minutes until its start so I made my way over to the pop up bar over by the lagoon and Transformers. It is no Finnegan’s but for now it will have to do, got myself a Guinness and made my way to Delancy Street a few minutes before the show started.
The show is a live musical street performance inspired by the classic Blues Brothers film and SNL characters. Jake and Elwood perform in their signature black suits and sunglasses, joined by Mabel the waitress and Jazz the saxophonist, who add powerhouse vocals and live instrumentation. It’s designed as a street party rather than a traditional stage show.
The show starts with Jazz warming up the audience, and momentarily Mabel joins in. Before you know it, the Blues Mobile is pulling down the street where Jake and Elwood exit and jump on the stage. In Episode 7, I know I mentioned this would be part of my perfect Universal day and I meant it. Its so entertaining and I hope it never leaves.
Horror make up show
Timing was working out pretty well, the mobile app was showing a Horror Make up show starting in about 25 minutes. Made my way over there and at first looked at all of the props in the lobby before the theatre was opened for the next show. This was the first time in a long while that the show just didn’t click for me. The two performers were fine, nothing wrong with them, but sometimes the audience plays a major factor or as a negative like in this case. The crowd wasn’t terrible or anything, but if you had seen the show before, there is always some important roles played by the audience. There is a person who they need medical assistance from, there is a child picked out to be sort of the antagonist of the show and lastly an audience member who doesn’t know it yet, but is going to carry the show. That person by the way was wonderful, the issues started with the first scene where medical assistance was being sought. That person was horrified by it, so that portion fell flat. The child they were talking too was so shy that the whole story line didn’t even play out. Anyway, don’t feel sorry for me, I love this show and even at its worst it was still entertaining. As mentioned in the news, this show will be changing, I hope they don’t screw it up, but then again, maybe they can find a story line that will work and not depend on the audience as much. Trust me, I love this show, just not that day.
Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees
Celestina Warbeck in Diagon Alley would be performing soon after, so I got myself to the hopping pot and ordered a Cider with a double shot of fire whisky. Its so refreshing, and a little potent. With that made myself over to find a good spot in front of the little stage and thankfully, Celestina did not disappoint. Celestina Warbeck never disappoints.
Celestina Warbeck & the Banshees is a lively, jazz‑inspired musical show in Diagon Alley where Molly Weasley’s favorite singer performs original Wizarding‑World songs with her trio of Banshee backup vocalists. It runs about 12 minutes and alternates throughout the day with Tales of Beedle the Bard on the Carkitt Market stage.
What makes this show so special?
It is deep Harry Potter lore in that Celestina is directly referenced in the books as Molly Weasley’s favorite singer. It has original music created specifically for the show and it is a short, high‑energy show that makes it easy to fit into any Diagon Alley visit.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
I think it was about this time that I realized the lagoon show wasn’t happening today, I was really hoping to get to see it, its been too long. Now I had no reason to rush to Islands and to get time to be back for that show. Anyway, now we are breaking the 4pm mark and I have express pass thanks to my premiere annual pass. With that, Gringotts was like… Right there.
I have seen the bank lobby portion of the queue a lot of times now in the past 13 or so years and it still feels as majestic as the first time. I will never not be impressed by the huge chandelier.
Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts is a hybrid dark ride–coaster that takes you deep into the vaults of Gringotts Bank, combining 3‑D screens, motion simulation, and roller‑coaster launches as you try to escape Voldemort, Bellatrix, trolls, and snakes. Of all the major Harry Potter attractions, I think this is my least favorite, but it is still a must do attraction that is pretty high up on the overall attractions list.
Hogwarts Express
I took the Hogwarts express over to Islands of Adventure to continue getting the most of my express pass benefit.
This is a themed train attraction that physically transports guests between the two Wizarding World lands. It is not a simulator or a coaster, the train really moves between parks, but the windows and cabin doors transform the journey into a cinematic experience. A Park‑to‑Park ticket is required to ride, which is a brilliant business decision if you think about it.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Beyond a doubt my 2 favorite legacy park attractions are Hagrid’s Motorbike adventure and Velocicoaster. Thanks to Hagrid’s finally getting express, this is why I have a premium annual pass. Riding them both back to back is icing on the cake.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is a high‑speed “story coaster” through the Forbidden Forest, combining multiple launches, animatronics, and immersive theming. The ride reaches 50 mph, features seven launches, a vertical spike, a backwards section, and a free‑fall drop track. Along the way you’ll see Fluffy, Blast‑Ended Skrewts, Cornish pixies, Thestrals, and a pair of unicorns. I had so much fun, its just so exciting ride after ride, and this time was no different.
Velocicoaster
Velocicoaster, love of my life. Less theme in comparison to Hagrid’s but even more thrill and excitement. VelociCoaster is a launched steel coaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, manufactured by Intamin and themed to the Jurassic World raptor paddock. It features two LSM launches, a 155‑ft top hat, a 140‑ft drop, a 70 mph top speed, and four inversions including a zero‑g stall and the signature Mosasaurus Roll over the lagoon. Universal officially markets it as the “apex predator of roller coasters”. I’ve mentioned before, and Im saying again, that Mosasaurus roll is everything to me.
I happen to have the annual Universal Photo Connect package, so I also love getting these on ride photos every single time.
Skull Island: Reign of Kong
My next hit was to be Spider-Man but when passing by Skull Island: Reign of Kong, I said why the hell not? Kong is a thrill attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, themed around an expedition into the mysterious, creature‑filled Skull Island. It blends motion simulation and large‑scale practical environments to immerse riders in a hostile jungle world. Its not in my top 10 but I do really enjoy it, particularly at night as long as the attraction isn’t in B mode, meaning the attraction uses the outdoor portion of the track.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
And last but not least, The Amazing Adventures of Spider‑Man. I covered this attraction in depth in episode 2, but for a refresher, the attraction is a fast‑paced 3‑D motion‑simulation dark ride where you join Spider‑Man to battle the Sinister Syndicate across New York City, blending moving vehicles, physical sets, and high‑definition 3‑D projections into one seamless, comic‑book‑style chase. If Disney and Universal never make a deal for the use of Marvel, it would be A OK with me. What an attraction, still!
Lost Emporium
Of course on my way out I had to check out the new Lost Emporium which as we talked in recent news has replaced the all hallows eve boutique. It has a totally different vibe now , its so open and bright, but I thought it was an improvement. Loved the old space, but this new space has to be twice if not three times the size. Probably the only complaint from the old space was there was just so little area to try and get by other guests at the shop. Yeah, I’ll chop this up as a win.
Today Café
While the lagoon show would not be happening this evening, I still opted to head back to Studios, mainly because I had since gotten a text from my son that he wanted something I showed him from the Film Vault. So while getting that, you know me all to well, I decided to grab a Carnegie sandwich from the Today Café as well. I will soon be heading to NBC Grill & Brew and in my head couldn’t come up with anything I felt like eating there. So, I’ll spare you the details, this is a place I have talked enough about the past few episodes.
NBC Sports Grill & Brew
Arrived at NBC Sports Grill & Brew just before 7pm, got myself a seat and a friendly couple of bartenders. Asked for the Celtics game on the TV and just as I mentioned in the past, they were happy to accommodate me. I had a few beers on tap, can’t remember what at this point, but I tried a few different ones. The beers were good, the Celtics, were not. And I think I will just leave it at that.
After the game, made my way back to Stella Nova and grabbed a pepperoni pizza from the grab and go section, mostly because I must hate myself. What is it about pizza in Orlando? Why can’t they do it? Why don’t I learn?
Day 2
Walking from Stella Nova is roughly 6 minutes at my pace to the crosswalk, it’s a straight shot out of the parking lot. This is a big intersection but the walking light allows plenty of time to get across safely.
Approaching the Chronos portal is as good as the icons at the legacy parks, maybe even more so by its unusual galaxian nature. This should be how you enter the park for the first time. Im not saying DON’T stay at Grand Helios for your first time, but this is something you will miss out on. It is definitely a memorable moment.
Ministry of Magic
Since this was my 3rd visit, I didn’t feel the need to hang out or vibe in Celestial Park, I was on a mission. I had express pass, but I had all the intentions in the world to ride Ministry of Magic twice, and after checking the app it was not delayed, and showed a 90 minute wait. I wasn’t right on time here, I was about 15 minutes after early entry, early enough to beat the real crowds, but late for a rope drop, but 90 was ok with me.
The reveal through the portal to mid century France is really impessive, but I didn’t focus yet on my surroundings, I had to get to the Ministry. Approaching the cirque tent and heading left led me right to the attraction. I didn’t faulter as I approached the queue and avoided the express pass queue with determination. This entire attraction will have a deep dive here someday because honestly I don’t have the words to describe just how grand and beautiful this queue is. What I can tell you is not only did I wait 90 minutes, but the attraction broke down for a brief period and I waited all of 2 hours without even flinching. There is so much to see here. Even being alone without anyone to speak with, the wait was effortless. That’s how good this queue is. I won’t leave you completely hanging, I just think this is going to be its own episode in the near future. But for the queue, I will say, the queue is designed as a narrative pre‑show, moving guests through the Ministry’s public spaces, archives, offices, and Auror facilities. It uses moving maps, enchanted ceilings, animated portraits, magical machinery, and character‑specific props to build the story. You won’t believe the scale of the grand atrium. No matter how prepared you think you are, you wont believe it.
You arrive at the Ministry on the day Dolores Umbridge is about to stand trial. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are present as witnesses. The trial quickly goes wrong, Umbridge attempts to escape, and Death Eaters and magical creatures invade the Ministry. Your lift becomes part of the chase as you descend through multiple departments. The lift, or your ride vehicle is a 14‑passenger elevator, a hybrid between a dark‑ride vehicle and a robotic motion base. Each lift is mounted on a robotic arm, but the arm is attached to a track, not free‑moving. The arm provides multi‑axis motion (tilt, pitch, spin, rise, drop) while the track provides forward movement through large physical sets.
Amazing, can’t say enough good things about the entire experience. Like I said, I waited 2 hours, while knowing I had express pass and didn’t doubt the decision for a moment during the wait.
I think I’ll break the timeline here since I mentioned I would come back, rather than jumping back to this later, I did in fact come back later in the day to ride again with my express pass. The end result was the same, I am so impressed by this attraction.
Fantastic beasts show not running, would check back later
As I exited the attraction the first time, I was having trouble finding times in the app for Le Cirque Arcanus. Mostly now I realize because the show was having technical difficulties. Approaching the tent facade, I could see the sign said delayed. I would continue to keep checking the app and checking back later in the day, but after a false hope in the afternoon of briefly showing an upcoming show time, it returned back to delayed.
I wanted to try the Bièraubeurre Crepe at Café L’air De La Sirène. The Crêpe is shortbread cookie butter Bavarian cream, Bièraubeurre cream, strawberries, Bièraubeurre™ drizzle, and a shortbread cookie garnish. This was every bit as delicious as it looks in the pictures. That is saying a lot. I will absolutely have this again, and its light and filling. This place might be my Today Café of Epic Universe. I washed that crepe down with a Au Currant Saison or a a blackcurrant saison. A saison, which is French for “season”, is a traditional Belgian beer style that began in the Wallonia region. It was historically brewed in the cooler months and stored for drinking during the summer farm season, which is why it’s often called a farmhouse ale.
On my second trip to the land later in the day, I additionally made my way to Bar Moonshine and got myself a Lobe Blaster, which is a potent mix of moonshine, limoncello, absinthe, lemon juice, club soda, and simple syrup garnished with a rosemary sprig and layered with an émulsion verte. I don’t know what a lot of that means, but it was delicious and strong. I used drink time to meander through the streets of Paris taking photos and enjoying the ambiance.
Dark Universe
And we are moving on to Darkmoore. Darkmoore during the day is a 9 out of 10. Darkmoore at night, is a 10 out of 10. Fortunately, I did both.
Monsters unchained
I started first with Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, without express again. Yeah, don’t worry I used them all, but the other attraction I had a goal of riding at least twice. Also I figured the first time should be without it so I get to crawl the entire queue. The queue for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment is a long, atmospheric walk through through Frankenstein Manor, moving from gothic exteriors into torch‑lit halls, artifact‑filled laboratories, and two major pre‑shows where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein introduces her experiment to control Dracula.
The attraction is a high‑intensity, motion‑based dark ride in Epic Universe’s Dark Universe land where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s attempt to control the classic Universal Monsters fails, unleashing Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and more as you try to escape her underground lab.
This is my favorite attraction at Epic, and possibly my favorite overall attraction. When comparing this to Ministry of Magic, I think I give Monsters a 10 for attraction and a 9 for the queue, and for Ministry I flip it, a 9 for the attraction and a 10 for the queue.
The other amazing feature of Monsters is how efficient it is. The reason this attraction rarely has a long wait is because its so efficient. They combined the Popeye circular platform with Forbidden journeys moving walkway and I cant believe all attractions don’t consider this sort of loading. So many guests are being loaded into these small ride vehicles at a time. Absolutely amazing.
I did return in the evening for a second ride around dusk, and to really take a long look at the land and of course the burning blade tavern. These first 2 attractions, being able to ride them twice, would have been a success for me as far as I was concerned.
Curse of the werewolf
Curse of the Werewolf is a spinning family‑thrill coaster in Epic Universe’s Dark Universe where you’re welcomed by Maleva of the Guild of Mystics, warned that you bear the werewolf’s mark, and then launched into a frantic, twisting escape through the dark forest as glowing eyes and werewolves close in. It is a spinning coaster that reaches 37 mph and lasts over two minutes, sending riders through a dark forest filled with werewolves.
Really enjoyable attraction, it is not a fast loader, so even express isn’t super efficient, but its just a good fun ride that most people can enjoy. It is a great entry level coaster and the spinning wasn’t excessive, but also provides a lot of re-rideability.
Oak Star Tavern
After completing the first round of 2 lands, I stepped into celestial park and went over to the oak star tavern for lunch. I got myself the Chopped Salad which included: romaine, tomato, cucumber, bbq bacon, feta and chipotle ranch. It was a really fresh tasting salad, and is something I enjoy mid day when the heat starts to get to me. I figure this is a good hydration method. I also stepped up to the plastered owl for a Smoky Scholar. Old Forester Oak & Star Private Barrel, The Bitter Truth chocolate bitters, toasted marshmallow syrup, and camp fire smoke. The plastered Owl is inside the oak and star tavern, so very convenient. I did not see this drink in the menu currently, so hopefully it isn’t going away because I really enjoyed it.
Super Nintendo World
Super Nintendo World, still appears to be the crowd favorite by the numbers. While it might be last for me, I still have to say that reveal from the second floor is absolutely amazing. The kinetic energy is buzzing here. In this land, I made no hesitation and used my express pass.
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is an interactive AR dark ride where you don special goggles, steer through iconic Mario Kart courses, collect coins, and throw shells to help Team Mario defeat Bowser for the Golden Cup. It blends physical sets, projection mapping, and augmented reality to make you feel like you’re inside the game, with multiple possible outcomes each time you ride. I’m giving you a tip, you aim with your eyes but you need to turn your head to do it. I know it doesn’t sound like much a tip, but once you’ve got it, you got it. This ride gets mixed reviews by the Theme park fans but the typical guests love everything about this and the land. I also don’t understand why it gets hate, I personally find it really enjoyable.
Yoshi’s Adventure
Yoshi’s Adventure is a gentle, family‑friendly omnimover ride where you board a colorful Yoshi and travel through the Mushroom Kingdom searching for glowing eggs while enjoying scenic views of Super Nintendo World. It’s slow‑paced, interactive, and designed for all ages. It’s a traditional dark ride like you think of in Fantasyland, something the entire family can enjoy even your littles.
Mine-Cart Madness was down for the day unfortunately. This attraction is a lot of fun and I was a little disappointed but I had accomplished so much by the time I got here, that disappointment was manageable. There was a sign out in the path where the entrance to mini land is, and I saw someone come out of there with the Donkey Kong float I knew I wanted to try was, so that made me go beyond the sign. I had meant to get one of these both previous trips, I could at least make this happen. It’s called the DK Crush Float Tropical Banana Flavor. I got myself the one with the souvenir DK cup, because I needed it. The drink is a banana pineapple soft serve float with pineapple soda, waffle bowl, sprinkles, toffee pieces and caramel popcorn. I wasn’t disappointed, this was delicious. The only thing I think they could improve on it is adding some rum.
I find Super Nintendo World overwhelming still. It is the one land I definitely need to explore more but the crowds are intense, not sure when I’ll get that opportunity. Maybe in the fall.
Isle of Berk
Entering the Isle of Berk is on the level of Super Nintendo World but without the chaos surrounding it. This is a much more toned down feeling. It is picturesque.
The Untrainable Dragon
The timing as I entered was intentional and focused on the show the Untrainable Dragon. A 20‑minute, effects‑heavy live show in Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk where Hiccup, Toothless, Astrid, and Gobber investigate the arrival of a mysterious new dragon, blending large‑scale puppetry, music, comedy, and a massive flying Toothless that soars over the audience. Unless you were there that day, because we were warned before entering, that toothless would not be flying on this day. The show was and is still worth seeing without this feature, but it is a stark reminder that the park still has a lot of issues to work out.
Dragon racers rally
One of the few attractions that do not have an express option and with Hiccup’s Wing Gliders experiencing a delay, I decided to jump in the line with a 40 minute wait. I had never experienced this attraction so was looking forward to it. I like how the queue has these signs sort of describing the how to on this attraction. It’s sort of a glamorous carnival style ride, where you have individual dragon vehicles attached to an arm with a counter weight and it lifts you up and spins around. The goal, if you dare, is to do an inversion if you can figure out how to. I was so focused on trying to get that done, that the ride was over before I even realized it. The official listing is 3 minutes, but it felt like about 45 seconds. I’m not in any rush to ride this one again.
Hiccup’s Wing Gliders
I could see that Hiccup’s Wing Gliders was up and running again as I exited dragon racers rally. So off I went, I just have to say, this coaster has no business being this fun. Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is a family‑friendly launch coaster where guests board one of Hiccup’s wooden flying contraptions and soar over the Isle of Berk, encountering Hiccup and Toothless along the way. It’s smooth, scenic, and designed to feel like your first step toward becoming a real dragon rider.
Banquet hall
Last trip I learned that I like mead. So I did make my way into Banquet Hall to get one. I leisurely walked around the Isle and took a lot of pictures and enjoyed my mead.
Star Dust Racers
Star Dust Racers was something I enjoyed late afternoon, this is a great coaster. I have yet to ride it in the dark yet, something I will have to do, but I have experienced both tracks. Stardust Racers is a high‑speed, dual‑launch racing coaster in Celestial Park where riders board glowing “comet” vehicles and race across 5,000 feet of track at speeds up to 62 mph, highlighted by the signature Celestial Spin inversion. The dueling factor adds so much, Rest in peace dueling dragons. I have come to the conclusion that I prefer Velocicoaster, but this is a close second for coasters.
Fountains
The fountains had been emptied for a period of time before I arrived, and I was lucky that I believe I was there on the first day when they had been refilled and were up and running. The last 15 minutes or so before the park closed, I just found a nice little spot, and watched the fountains, listened to the music and just took in the vibes and reflected on what was an epic day.
Epic summary
When Epic Universe is up and running, it is the best theme park I have ever been to, but right now, that just isn’t often enough. I have faith they will continue to improve attraction reliability, and I look forward to the day when we can freely come and go here as we do the other legacy parks. Despite its flaws, it was truly and epic day.
Walked back to Stella, stopped in to the Cosmos Café and got myself a STELLA CHEESEBURGER, which is Triple beef patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce tomato, onion, pickles, cosmic sauce, challah bun. I very much enjoyed my stay at Stella Nova, but I hope I never eat there again.
After eating, called it a night, and I do have to point out, I had the best uninterrupted sleep at this hotel. I rarely have uninterrupted sleep even in the comfort of my own home, so this was new to me. Something about the bed and bedding just really was working for me. I didn’t remember this from my previous stay, so not sure if something changed, or I was just so exhausted I just passed out. Time will tell I suppose.
Day 3
I woke up in the morning and took my time, packing and getting ready to go. I waited until it was about checkout time which is 11am before rolling my stuff down to bell services. Had them hold my bags. I didn’t have a lot of time, but I took a brief trip to the legacy parks for last minute shopping, a quick ride on MiB where I scored 546,675. I also took in ET, which it was great to see Botanicus was back in the queue.
Soon thereafter, I made my way back to get my bags and get an Uber back to MCO where my flight was not only on time, but I landed early as well. Great flight, great time. That will be my last hoorah, until Horror Nights returns.