Episode 35: Universal Epic Universe, Part 1 (Universally Epic)

It's not every day a brand-new theme park opens, especially on this level.  Known for immersive theming, cutting-edge attractions, and world-class roller coasters, Universal Orlando Resort debuted Epic Universe in May, and I visited shortly after opening.  The park is home to five themed worlds: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk.  

On my first of two days at Epic Universe, I focused on riding the four outdoor roller coasters because heavy rain was forecast for day two.  Join me for my first day beyond the gate home to gardens green and epic worlds to fill your dreams.      

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Transcript

Epic.  Definition One.  Noun.  A long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero.  Okay, I hated reading Homer’s Odyssey epic poem in high school, so what about definition 2? Adjective.  Of or relating to a work of art that resembles or suggests an epic.  Now we’re getting somewhere.  

Universe.  Noun.  Definition One.  The whole body of things and phenomena observed or postulated; the world of human experience; and/or the entire celestial cosmos.

The latest addition to the Universal Orlando Resort promises to be just that.  A work of art in elevated style recounting the deeds of, in this case, several legendary heroes.  Here, we’re called travelers, and beginning from Celestial Park, we’ll travel to the farthest reaches of the cosmos via four portals, exploring incredible phenomena while pushing the limits of the human experience.  Hey, we might even catch a ride on a comet or two in the process.      

Welcome to Episode 35 of Coaster Redux.  My name is Erik, and this is the story of my revived roller coaster fandom. For years, I’d all but forgotten my coaster obsession from high school and college, but since the pandemic, I’ve been on a mission to ride as many new coasters as I can.  I know as a roller coaster fan that one of my favorite parts of the hobby is getting the reaction of somebody coming off a ride they’ve never ridden before.  That’s what I want to share with you. 

And with that, join me for two full days beyond the gate home to gardens green, and epic worlds to fill your dreams.  It’s a brand new theme park intended to reimagine the very concept.  Let’s travel to Universal Epic Universe on Coaster Redux.    

Let’s pump the brakes for a second.  I don’t wanna over-hype this place.  As if I’m the only person talking about it right now, which, of course, I’m not.  But if my every description is as grandiose as the promise of a ground-up theme park from arguably the most innovative existing operator, at some point, it’ll lose its cosmic luster.

I’m tempted to rag on the name a little bit, but somehow, despite using the same word twice, Universal Epic Universe still sounds…..epic.  It’s not everyday we get a brand new theme park featuring five immersive worlds and eleven cutting-edge attractions to explore.  

The park was announced in 2019, twenty years after Islands of Adventure opened with the very same number of rides and lands that redefined what a theme park can be.  Construction commenced, and the enthusiast community watched intently as Universal strategically revealed immaculately curated experiences rivaling Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and Jurassic World VelociCoaster.

The park was to feature a hub and spoke layout with Celestial Park as the anchor point.  The goal was to put the park back in “theme park” with green spaces, water features, open pathways, as well as countless shops, restaurants, and bars.  It would be home to the whimsical Constellation Carousel, and my most anticipated attraction, Stardust Racers, a pair of launched dueling roller coasters from Mack Rides.  The backdrop to the park would be the Helios Grand Hotel, one of three resorts on property.

Four portals transport travelers from Celestial Park to those epic worlds to join their legendary heroes.  In Super Nintendo World travelers join the Mario Brothers for a game of Mario Kart, Yoshi for a scenic adventure, and Donkey Kong for a mine cart ride that actually jumps the track.  Dark Universe is home to the Universal Classic Monsters.  Think Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man.  They’re all part of an experiment deep in the catacombs beneath the village of Darkmoor, with a spinning roller coaster at its center.  Travelers go back to 1920’s Paris and the setting of the Fantastic Beasts movies in Orlando’s third edition of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Ministry of Magic, and an amazing adventure awaits on the other side of the magical Metro Floo.  Then finally, visit the Isle of Berk from How to Train Your Dragon and fly with Vikings and their fire-breathing friends.  Four roller coasters, three dark rides, and so much more.  Color me enthused.            

Epic Universe was set to open on May 22, 2025, and options to purchase tickets were rolled out slowly as the big day approached.  Initially, you could only buy a single-day ticket as part of a three-day package in the resort.  I kept a watch on the website to scoop up a couple of day tickets as soon as they became available.  I didn’t care what it took.  I was going to visit Epic Universe shortly after opening, and give myself two full days to hopefully do everything in the park despite the inevitable crowds.  After consulting my calendar, I secured my tickets for the first Tuesday and Wednesday in June, and hoped for the best.  It’s worth mentioning that I later checked these dates for availability for a friend, and they were blocked out, so I’d be visiting the park at max capacity, or at least whatever cap Universal deemed appropriate. 

Meanwhile, the park held technical rehearsal, initially reserved for families and friends of employees to get the park ready for guests and work the kinks out.  As opening day drew closer, passholders, and eventually any member of the public could visit; paying almost full price for the privilege and gambling on would be open.  As a result, social media was abuzz with walk-throughs, reactions, and reviews of the new park, and I decided to avoid this as best I could.  I wanted my initial impressions to be untainted.  It’s just way more fun that way.

After about a month of avoiding spoilers, it was finally time for me to load up and make the three hour drive north to Orlando.  I booked a room at one of my go-to Marriott hotels next to SeaWorld from Monday night through Thursday morning.  Epic Universe was open from 10 am through 9 pm, and I wanted to spend as much time as possible in the park on those two days.  I was on the road late Monday morning after rush hour with the plan to spend a few hours at SeaWorld before checking in.

I made my regular Dunkin stop for iced coffee and a breakfast sandwich before heading north.  I didn’t want to eat at SeaWorld because their food has become increasingly expensive and decreasingly delicious as of late.  My drive through Florida’s interior was pleasant enough, although I lamented the layers of love-bugs plastering my front end and windshield upon my arrival.  It’s that time of year in Florida, and if you know you know.

It was overcast and muggy as I pulled into preferred parking and headed for the gate.  SeaWorld had just opened their new Expedition Odyssey flying theater from Mack Rides, so I wanted to check that out and grab a few coaster rides.  The park was pretty dead, and I only waited a cycle or two for Pipeline before heading across the wooden pedestrian bridge towards Ice Breaker.  

Expedition Odyssey resides in the old Wild Arctic building.  The wait was about 45 minutes, and the majority of the queue comprises switchbacks in a large open room with some backlit photos of Arctic wildlife.  It’s pretty bare bones.  Once it was time to board, we were placed in one of two lines, one for each level of the theater.  There’s a quick pre-show before we’re directed to the load station.  Once we’re in, the entire ride vehicle rotates around 180 degrees into the theater.  The ride is a flight above ice caps featuring penguins and polar bears, and a dive beneath the frigid sea to swim with orcas.  You do get some drips from real water to sell the effects, and the ride was fun, but I left underwhelmed.  The video had strange cuts that broke the immersion, and it seemed the screen was capable of higher resolution video.  I don’t think this ride system was used to its full potential, and I hope SeaWorld improves this attraction in the future.

I made a lap around the rest of the park enjoying rides on Ice Breaker, Mako, and Kraken with almost no lines. For more on this park, my full audio vlog on SeaWorld Orlando is available in Episode 10, if you’re interested.   Once I got my fill, I headed across the street to my hotel.  I checked in and ordered a deep dish pizza from Uno Chicago Grill.  These things are so massive and dense, I knew my leftovers would make a perfect snack to microwave the next two nights.

Before going to bed, I pulled up the weather.  Of course I’d been watching it closely over the last week or so, but every summertime forecast in Florida predicts showers and thunderstorms.  Tomorrow would be overcast with a 60% rain chance,  Wednesday was 80%.  And so it goes.  When I said I was going to have to be fluid in the last episode, I didn’t think it would be literal.

It was Tuesday, June 3rd.  A date etched into my memory for the last several weeks since I bought my tickets for Epic Universe.  Skies were partly cloudy, with temps in the mid 80’s.  My plan was to arrive prior to rope drop to maximize my day, especially because the weather was fair at the moment.   I walked out of the hotel lobby and sat on a bench by the entrance to call an Uber.  Parking would have cost me $32, but a ride share was about 8 bucks each way.  As I pulled up the app, I glanced at the top right corner of my phone.  35% battery.  My heart sank.  While I plugged my phone in last night, it didn’t charge.  There was no way I could make it through a full day in the park at that level.  I needed to record audio for the podcast, take videos for reels, entertain myself in the queues, and most importantly, order an Uber to get home at the end of the day.

Infuriated, I returned to my room to charge the infernal brick which took about 45 minutes.  I sat at my laptop watching YouTube videos, which only made me more anxious since my feed was flooded with Epic Universe content that I refused to watch.  The park was literally open right now, and I wasn’t there.  When my phone reached 93% I couldn’t wait any longer, and headed back to the bench.  Fortunately, my Uber arrived in minutes, and we turned onto International Drive for the quick trip to the park.  

We turned off Destination Parkway onto Epic Boulevard, passing a massive sign welcoming us to the Universal Orlando Resort.  It’s worth noting that Epic is about four miles from CityWalk, but they created new roads complete with an elevated traffic circle and dedicated bus lanes to ease traffic flow in this urban area.  The parking lot is sprawling, and my driver navigates its periphery en route to the rideshare drop point.  The park had been open for an hour, yet it felt nearly deserted.  There’s also no epic reveal as we approach.  The tallest structure is the Helios Grand in the background.  Stardust Racers are visible in the distance, but at only 133 feet tall, it’s not a wow moment.  

I exited my Uber and walked past the vast expanse of parking spaces on the left, then turned slightly uphill towards the gate.  It all felt brand new; nicely landscaped, but surprisingly bland.  I turned right and approached the entry plaza, and it’s got all that celestial look.  It’s kinda hard to describe, but I’d call it Jules Verne turn of the century World’s Fair.  Like an 1890’s take on the future.  Dark green is the main color with yellow and copper accents.  It’s a vibe for sure.

First up is the security checkpoint, and I think Universal could improve this.  It’s just like TSA at the airport.  Everything in your pockets has to go in a bin before you walk through metal detection.  You do get to keep your shoes on though.  The line was short as I was an hour late for opening, but I could see this being a point of frustration when it’s crowded.  Six Flags does security so much better, so I’m surprised Universal is lagging in this area.

Step two is the ticket turnstiles.  As you approach the attendants, you get your picture taken.  Then scan your day ticket from the app.  That was it.  I exited the second shade pavilion and stood before the Chronos for the first time.  It’s a gyroscope invented by Celestians to harness the power of the universe and open portals to distant worlds across space and time.  The details are stunning with a circular medallion depicting each of the four themed worlds beneath the Chronos, and those iconic words of welcome.  Beyond this gate, find gardens green, and epic worlds to fill your dreams.  Tone for the day?  Superbly set.   So without further adieu, it’s time to travel.

I turned left after the Chronos, passing the statue of Luna, goddess of the Moon.  My plan was to ride all of the outdoor roller coasters first because of tomorrow’s rain forecast.  Everybody recommended I ride Mine Cart Madness first because it’s typically got the longest line, and is prone to breakdowns, so I hightailed it to Super Nintendo World.  The portal is the first on the left upon entry, and it features the simplest tag line from Mario…..Here we go!

I entered the tunnel which quickly transformed into a bright green warp pipe as I stepped onto  an escalator.  The soundtrack transitions as seamlessly as the visuals.

I exited the warp pipe into Princess Peach’s castle and experienced the first grand reveal of the day.  Complete sensory overload is an understatement.  I’m on the second level looking across at the characteristic rectangular mountain backdrops from the video games, and everything is moving.  Spinning coins, Goombas, Koopa Troopas, chomping Piranha plants, Thwomps, undulating platforms.  The kinetic energy is mesmerizing.  Plus, it’s jammed with guests.

I made my way downstairs to the lower level and hung a right, and it was time for yet a second reveal, as I passed through another tunnel from Super Mario World into Donkey Kong Country.  The Mario theme is replaced by beating drums in this tropical oasis.  Mine Cart Madness surrounds the back three sides of the realm with cartloads of guests gleefully jumping the tracks.  From off-ride, it looks so cool.  The wait is posted at 90 minutes.  The single rider line is at capacity.  Time to battle the first line of the day.

From what I could tell the switchbacks were pretty much completely full, probably minutes away from spilling onto the midway.  The first part of the queue is outdoors with minecarts passing above, jumping the track, before disappearing into a tunnel.  I timed the interval between cars at about 16 seconds.  Even though they only carry four riders each, that’s pretty impressive.  There’s a block brake right before that jump, and I nerded out listening to it cycle.  It doesn’t slow the cars, but it’s armed to activate if the block zone ahead is occupied.  This vantage point is also on the right side of the minecart, and Universal placed as much scenery as possible to hide the secret that brings it to life. 

Mine Cart Madness is a boom coaster, a concept developed by Universal for this attraction.  Essentially, the Nintendo-inspired rails with frequent jagged breaks are there for show.  The cart rides on a pair of vertically oriented rails mostly hidden from view below the false track, and is connected to a boom attached to the right side.  Every coaster enthusiast has dreamed of flying across track gaps, and I was excited to see how this would actually feel.                             

After about 40 minutes outdoors, the queue transitions into the Golden Castle.  While covered, it’s not completely enclosed.  Massive air conditioning units are mounted overhead and working overtime.  Oddly cut into the rockwork ceilings with vents covered in dust, these look like an afterthought.  While it certainly isn’t ice cold in the queue, these machines do take the edge off.  There’s not a lot to look at through these switchbacks until you pass an animatronic of Kranky Kong, DK’s grandfather, who explains the minecart mission.  Protect the Golden Banana and chase the Tiki Tak Tribe out of the castle.  Simple enough.

A few minutes later, I was ushered aboard a minecart with three companions.  I sat in back row right with my seat elevated stadium style.  There’s a moving platform to streamline boarding and the carts never stop.  Loose articles are permitted to remain at riders’ feet and a simple lap bar is all that needs to be checked before we’re out the door and the minecart springs into action.

You turn around and engage a speedy lift hill to the top of the castle, with all of Donkey Kong Country below to the left.  At the top, you navigate the first track break and the madness begins.  You enter the castle and the track goes straight ahead, but another mine cart is coming at you, so you jump off and dive down to the right in a tunnel and spiral down 270 degrees.  You jump another gap and bank right again to return indoors.  There’s an anvil on the track ahead, yet you jump to a parallel track on the right at the last second to avoid it.  You exit the tunnel, turn right and engage the second lift hill.  At the top, you dip down avoiding a tiki and turn right into a quick hop before another turnaround heading into the longest track jump on the ride.  You skim across a water feature before turning left to be welcomed back by Donkey and Diddy Kong, mission accomplished.  

Turns out my time on Mine Cart Madness wasn’t over yet as the ride went down with my cart two away from entering the station.  I sat for about ten minutes as ride operators assessed the situation.  As for my thoughts on the ride?  I’m gonna say it’s cute.  It’s a lot of fun, but  when the entire gimmick of the coaster is jumping the track, I don’t think they fully sold the illusion.  Maybe having some kind of vibration in the seats when you take off or land would have helped.  It’s also got some shaky transitions that I’m sure weren’t meant to be there, but maybe they unintentionally help sell the sensation of riding one of these outta control contraptions over dilapidated trackwork.

After being stopped for about ten minutes, the ride crew came by and said they were going to evac the guests behind us who were stuck outside in the rain.  I was thankful not to be in their position, as the precip hadn’t started during my ride.  Universal’s crews did an excellent job handling this situation as each person who walked past us to release our soggy counterparts took a minute to communicate their exact intentions.  Textbook crowd management.  About five minutes later, each seat was manually unlocked and we stepped carefully onto the catwalk to return to the station.  

While it wasn’t a dramatic evac, it was still cool to watch the process and take part in it, and for my 15 minutes of trouble, I was granted a skip the line pass valid for the rest of the day.  Looks like I was walking out with a golden banana of my own!

I emerged outside to find a steady rain, and briefly took cover in the tunnel back to Super Mario World.  After about 5 minutes, the Florida shower slowed to a drizzle and I returned to Celestial Park.  A glance at the app revealed a 25 minute wait for Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, so I made my way across to the Isle of Berk.

I watched How to Train Your Dragon for the first time a few days earlier to understand the story and characters in this land.  While predictable, I was charmed by the story of the outcast Viking befriending the most elusive dragon and ultimately saving the day.  

This portal welcomes guests with the simple words, “We, my friends, have dragons.”  A stone slab with Hiccup’s opening monologue carved into it blocks the world from initial view.  Upon entry sits a massive blue lagoon home to Viking ships with the Isle’s wooden homestead in the distance.  Statues of a viking and a dragon stand together in the foreground.  Save for the Helios hotel, Berk’s grassy spiral summit may be the tallest point in the park.  A Wing Glider dodges a splash effect and dives beneath a bridge to the left.  You walk along wood planks, and they’re slippery when wet.  Rope railings are tied to wooden pilings enhancing the atmosphere.  

Viking Training Camp, a children’s play structure is to the left, followed by Dragon Racer’s Rally, a pair of Gerstlauer Sky-Fly flat rides allowing riders to control the roll on their dragon of choice.  The entrance to Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, an Intamin multi-launch family coaster, lies just around the next bend.  

It’s still drizzling slightly, and I managed to walk though most of the switchbacks in the outdoor queue, finally stopping beneath a large shade tent.  I gotta imagine this will be brutal in the summer, but I was quite comfortable given the overcast skies.  

After about fifteen minutes, I was invited to put my loose articles in a locker, and this was my first experience with the next gen double sided lockers at Epic Universe.  No need to scan a ticket here.  Just look at the camera to get your picture taken, and put your belongings in the locker when it pops open.  I didn’t know it at the time, but there is no metal detection on this ride, so I could have kept my smaller items in my pockets.  The lockers are really meant for larger loose items that can’t ride with you.

I climbed the stairs up and over the dual load platform and it looked like I’d be onboard after only 20 minutes.  I was psyched!  Looked like the weather really helped with this one, and I figured maybe I’d even loop back for a second ride.  I was directed into the back row on the right side of the station.  Four trains were running, with a switch track routing gliders into the open side of the station after each dispatch.  This made for super efficient operations, and I quickly took my seat in the back row right.  I lowered the lap bar, then the crew came over the PA and directed us to exit the train back into the station pen.  The ride was down for a weather delay.  

It was hard to tell for sure from the station, but if it was raining, it was no worse than when I entered.  Dark clouds were looming though, so I’m guessing there was lightning in the area.  I didn’t have my phone with me, so I couldn’t check the radar, and being right at the air gate, there wasn’t even room to sit down, so I just leaned my back against the railing, watching the ride crew, looking outside, and listening to Hiccup’s announcement over and over again.  You see, he’s a bit of an inventor, and the wing glider is his latest creation allowing visitors to the Isle of Berk to fly alongside its resident dragons.

Looking around, I noticed two cars in the middle of the train had pad eyes installed on their sides, as if for lifting, but they were absent on the other cars.  This is Universal, so there’s no way that’s accidental, but I thought it odd.  

About 30 minutes later, a pair of trains on Stardust Racers wooshed by just outside, then another.  Then some with riders.  Finally, operations resumed on Hiccup’s as well, but the wait wasn’t over.  Each train needed to run the course upon re-opening, then a team member needed to ride and return before we could board.  

Now, I didn’t know anything about this roller coaster going in, but I watched as the employees boarded and it seemed like several minutes before they came back, like it was a really long cycle time.  What does Hiccup have up his sleeve?  Are there tricks like Hagrid’s at Islands of Adventure?  Suddenly my hype level went up.

The employees disembarked, and I sat down in the back row again, and lowered the simple Intamin lap bar.  It was finally time to head out and soar among dragons.  Fair warning, spoilers ahead.

So Toothless launched us before the wings were installed.  I guess that’s what those pad eyes were for.  Now we’re careening at low altitude with about as much control as a Night Fury without a left tail fin.  You launch upward and make an S-bend to the right above the ride queue, zigging in unstable flight only feet above Berk.  You plummet clumsily downward skimming wingless above the water zagging without directional control and dive just beneath the bridge to the right, still learning to fly.  You swoop left into a high-banked left helix, struggling to maintain altitude, before banking hard right into a valley with rocks on both sides.  The train slows, and climbs slowly uphill before running out of juice and rolling back.  

You surge uphill and fly though a wooden structure behind Dragon Racers, passing other dragon nests, before a bunny hop, and a string of banking turns as you successfully navigate the wingless glider back to the station.

What an absolute joy!  Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is a beautiful story-driven family roller coaster with decent forces, a great story, some fun surprises, and outstanding onboard audio.  Despite the long wait, I walked off with a huge smile on my face.  While Hagrid’s is far grander in scale, Hiccups follows the same recipe, just in a smaller package.

After two prolonged waits, I was famished, and Epic Universe has no shortage of interesting food options.  In fact, there are no less than 28 food and beverage locations within the park.  The options are so widespread that I became overwhelmed scrolling the app in search of my next meal, and Universal really pushes use of the park app for mobile ordering.  I zeroed in on the Burning Blade Tavern for my late lunch and crossed Celestial Park again, this time heading for Dark Universe.

Home to Universal Classic Monsters, this portal’s monniker is “It’s Alive, it’s alive!”  Upon entry, the scenery immediately becomes, well, dark.  Grey skies and lingering rainwater only add to the dreary ambiance.  The pathways are black with gravestones flanking each side, and the entrance to the Frankenstein Catacomb is chained shut on the left.  There are green trees here to be sure, but this world is clearly meant to feel like black and white.  The pathway turns and we get the reveal of Darkmoor, a Gothic German town with the Frankenstein Manor as its focal point.  Buildings like the Das Stakehouse restaurant feature dark stonework.  Aged wooden eaves support the roofs with flickering lanterns dangling below.     

The Manor stands proud at the end of a wide walkway, and every so often the front spires illuminate with pulsing blue energy channeled in from below.  This is the entrance to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, the signature ride in this dark land and the wait is a mere 20 minutes.  But wait, there’s a single rider line, and it’s open.  Let’s go!

I got a great look at the dual staircases in the Manor’s front foyer, but then, I left the general queue into a series of dark corridors which eventually brought me straight to the station.  Somehow, I’d just gotten a walk-on to one of Epic’s most anticipated rides!  

Your board the Frankenstein Experiment in a towering rotunda.  All of those glowing electrical conduits appear to lead here, crackling with energy providing power for the experience to come.  Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, great, great, granddaughter of Henry Frankenstein now lives here, and she’s attempting to control all of the monsters trapped in the catacombs beneath Darkmoor.  Her assistant Igor will be operating our ride vehicle, giving us an up-close look at the monsters lurking below.

We’re grouped into parties of four and step onto a turntable load platform to quickly board our unit.  Each four-across module is connected to a robotic Kuka arm, the same ride system as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Islands of Adventure.  I lowered a very bulky shoulder restraint, and waited as my feet left the turntable and the ride entered oblivion.

The good doctor orders Igor to take control of our machine, and with that, we’re heading deep underground.  The Phantom of the Opera plays an organ throwing flames from its pipes, then Dr. Vic welcomes us to her greatest work, Count Dracula under her control.  The Frankenstein Monster activates the machine, and, as it goes here at Universal, something goes terribly wrong!  I’d be doing you a discredit by trying to describe everything, but to be brief, Dracula begins releasing all the monsters, and the resulting ride is a terrifying encounter with one after another as Victoria and the Monster try to get everything back under control.  It’s super fast-paced with mind-blowing effects, unbelievably believable animatronics, and minimal screen usage resulting in my inability to stop smiling throughout the ride.  Shockingly, in the end, the monsters are contained, and we depart with Igor asking us to leave a good review.

Back on the turntable, I walked away from Monsters Unchained with my head in a tailspin.  There was so much to take in, but those effects were spectacular.  No other dark ride I’ve done feels so real.  The animatronics here are next level.  The story is riveting, and it doesn’t need 3-D glasses because everything is really in 3-D.  I couldn’t tell where the practical sets stopped and the screens began.  This is a ride I want to do again, but my stomach had other ideas.

Back on the streets of Darkmoor, I resolved to get something to eat before riding anything else.  Universal was really pushing online ordering, so I gave it a try.  I chose the Staked Grilled Chicken from the Burning Blade from the pick-up window.  That was part one.  Part two was notifying the app that I was there before the kitchen would begin preparing my food.  While I was in the general vicinity of the restaurant, the app uses the location feature to determine when you’ve arrived.  Now I gotta find this place.   

The main track of the Curse of the Werewolf roller coaster stood between me and the Tavern.  This spinning family coaster from Mack Rides is situated dead center in Darkmoor and is surrounded by nets.  I’m pretty sure any werewolf worth his bite would be able to shred these things in seconds, so they’re not theming elements, but seriously ugly safety precautions put in place by the legal department.  

Anyway, I found the Burning Blade in the far back corner of Dark Universe.  This tavern is where the Hounds, or monster hunters hang out, and I’ve never encountered a theme park restaurant that looked quite so uninviting.  This windmill tower is known to burst into flames.  Its base is built from cobblestones while the tower is wilted wood which somehow survives those frequent flame-ups.

Through the pair of heavy oaken doors lies a dark and dank bar room home to a few booths and counters.  It doesn’t feel like you should be here, which of course, made me all the more intrigued.  It’s so small that the handful of people in here made it feel full, and I looked around to find the pick-up window.  

It was located outside to the right, so I pulled my phone out and alerted the app that I was ready to eat.  Five minutes later, my phone buzzed notifying me that my order was ready.  I stepped up to the counter and only needed to give my name before receiving my order.  Hey, that’s actually pretty cool.  I much prefer that versus standing in a long line to order, followed by a longer one to check out.  The payment is handled completely within the app with my linked credit card.

The tiny tavern was full, so I selected a seat on a nearby bench to eat.  The Staked Grilled Chicken was a char-crusted chicken skewer with garlic naan, garlic tzatziki sauce, shaved cabbage, and salsa roja.  I basically made a chicken pita out of it.  For 12 bucks, this was a great value and super delicious.  It was an unusual combination that was fresh and packed with flavor.  I’d so much rather buy two large high-quality snack-type items like this during a theme park day than one large crummy platter of chicken tenders and fries for 20 dollars.

I gulped down my lunch and the accompanying lemonade in minutes, watching the Curse of the Werewolf in action through those nets.  It looked pretty fast, and some cars had some aggressive spins going.  I could see the swing launch from the pathway, so that wouldn’t be a surprise, but this thing looked awesome!  Was this a sleeper hit of a family coaster?  The possibility was there.  Remember, I didn’t watch any reviews coming in, so I had no idea what to expect, so let’s check it out!    

When I passed the entrance heading to the Burning Blade, it was only 30 minutes, but in the time I took to eat, the entire queue began spilling onto the midway with a posted wait of 90 minutes.  The greeter informed me that the single rider line was at capacity.  Once again, this is what I signed up for.  Brand new theme park right after opening.  It is what it is, so let’s get this wait over with.

A group of wagons owned by mystics are clustered at the ride’s entrance with the queue leading  uphill into their encampment in the forest.  The line winds slowly upward beneath trees that are still growing in.  Give it a few years, and I think the forest setting will feel more real.  Banners hanging along the climb reveal parts of a message: Even one who is pure of heart may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the moon is full and bright.  For the record, it took me an hour to pass all of those.  

Then the second half of the line is housed beneath the mystics’ tent.  Fortune telling cards and tables are placed throughout; guests being encouraged to ask a mystic whether they themselves are cursed.  While the queue is nicely stylized, there’s not much to look at here, and the line moved at a snail’s pace.  

After dedicating a full hour and a half, I finally approached the load platform.  A tear in the tent reveals a full moon just above.  The trains are five cars long, each seating four riders sitting back-to-back.  I rode in the middle car facing backwards.  Like Mine Cart Madness, bags ride at your feet.  I lowered the simple lap bar, and was joined by a guest from the single rider line who’d only waited 30 minutes.  I guess it’s all luck and timing.  Anyway, we rolled out of the station for a trip through the forest in an attempt to outrun the werewolves. 

You turn 90 degrees to the left to start the ride, and the trains are unlocked to enable spinning.  You launch forward and the train crawls over a bunny hop before banking around 270 degrees to the right.  You enter a shed, a werewolf growls, and you get a booster launch up into an overbanked turn, but it’s not enough.  You roll back through the shed and climb halfway up the previous turn before another boost propels the train through an overbank to the right.  What’s in the shed?  I’m guessing werewolves, but only being in there for a few brief seconds, I didn’t notice.  After that overbank, you pop up and dive low to the ground then complete two subsequent S-bends before hitting the final brakes.  

I’m not gonna lie, this ride was a huge disappointment.  The story was very loose, the ride was super short, and in no way worth a 90 minute wait.  My car barely spun, and this roller coaster was tame as can be.  Families on my train applauded and the kids loved it.  That was enough to put a smile on my face.  Maybe my expectations were too high.  That’s fine.  There’s another Mystic coaster through the woods with a shed that I’ll take any day.

I departed Dark Universe, with my spirits slightly lifted.  I should be elated because I’m walking across Celestial Park again, and this time I’m heading for the main event.  Simply put, THE roller coaster at Epic Universe, Stardust Racers, my most anticipated ride in the park.  But the wait is posted at 70 minutes, and line fatigue is setting in hard.  The excruciating wait for Curse of the Werewolf took a lot out of me, and the ride didn’t give me the adrenaline boost I craved to refill the tank.  I was quite sure Stardust would impress.  Hey, if anything I’ve ridden since Iron Gwazi has the potential to knock VelociCoaster from my number one ranking this is it, but there was over an hour of switchbacks separating me from that load platform.  Once again, this is what I signed up for, so might as well get the countdown started.

Stardust Racers has a commanding presence in Celestial Park.  The station is covered by a curved pavilion with that same green aesthetic as the Chronos.  A comet emerges from its expanse surrounded by gimbals to harness its energy, or maybe it’s a sextant for navigation.  Regardless, that’s the story here.  When Celestians aren’t  traveling to worlds beyond, they harness comets and race them for sport.  Each cycle, the trains leave the station, turn around in opposite directions, and come together in the launch tunnel below.  They briefly disappear from view, and then return to cross paths directly in front of the Celestial Park midway before dashing off again.  It’s breathtaking, and the fenceline is filled with spectators.

The entrance is to the left of the station, and it feels like entering a train depot to another world with stairs leading up to the platform, white subway tile, and those curving green steel structures.  The queue is shaded beneath a series of circular gazebos traveling almost as far from Celestial Park as the coaster itself, and today’s line started at the very end of the last one.  At least we only had to make our way back.  From here, you get some sweet views of the trains weaving over and under one another on this pair of green and yellow tracks.

While Mack Rides is a major player building large-scale thrill coasters worldwide, here in the States, they’re best known for spinning coasters and water coasters.  Prior to Stardust Racers, their most notable installations here were Copperhead Strike at Carowinds, and Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City, and I love both of them for their innovative layouts, comfortable restraints, and smooth rides.  Mack isn’t afraid to push the envelope and try new things, but they also maintain a reputation for quality and reliability.  With two tracks at 5,000 feet each, Stardust Racers is by far their most ambitious stateside project to date, and the interaction between the two sides looks amazing.

The biggest criticism Mack Rides receives from coaster enthusiasts is lack of intensity and weak launches.  While Copperhead Strike definitely suffers from the latter, I find it’s got great airtime, but placed next to an Intamin or RMC, the G-forces simply can’t compare.  Stardust Racers looks slow from off ride.  With a top speed of 62 mph, the trains barely seem to clear those initial top hats, and appear to gracefully waltz through the course.  There’s no doubt the racing element will be the highlight of this roller coaster.  Many call it a spiritual successor to the much loved Dueling Dragons, the pair of B&M inverts that opened with Islands of Adventure in 1999 with three epic encounters during the layout.  Can Stardust Racers live up to the legacy?  Will it be fun but forceless?  Or could it crack my top 5 and challenge VelociCoaster for my number one spot.  I’ve still got half a queue to go before I get my answer..

As I wound my way through these circular pens, announcements played periodically.  The typical stuff.  Loose articles must be placed in a locker, as this ride does have metal detectors.  Don’t sit on the railings.  Fill in the space in front of you.  But there was one bulletin on repeat way more than anything else, probably every five minutes, and it was really bizarre.  

I actually laughed because you can detect a hint of sarcasm and imagine an eye-roll while she’s saying, please do not take off your shoes.  Seriously though, what about this experience would make somebody want to take their shoes off?  It’s not an inverted coaster.  It’s not a water ride.  Why is this such a problem?  Should I elect to remove my shoes and place them in a locker and walk barefoot up to the station, how would this cause a delay in the ride?  It would be moronic to do so, but if I wanted to ride with my toes out, I don’t see a safety problem.

I finally reached the double-sided lockers, which means I must be getting close.  Like Hiccup’s, these use facial recognition so you don’t have to remember your number or have a ticket.  I emptied my pockets, and proceeded upstairs.  A different version of the shoe announcement played up here, this time with a male voice.  Yes, the shoe thing is apparently such a big deal that they had two voice actors record the same announcement.  By now, the couple behind me was joking about the shoe thing too.  As we approached the metal detectors, I turned to them and said, “Hey, make sure you keep your shoes on.”  We got a good laugh, passed through screening, and were finally in the station.

Here’s where you make your choice, yellow or green.  Yellow is technically called Photon, or a particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation.  Green is Pulsar, a celestial object, thought to be a rapidly rotating neutron star, that emits regular pulses of radio waves.  During my Instagram scrolling leading up to my visit, I inadvertently caught a glimpse of a post proclaiming green to be the better side, so I bore right.  

For ten final minutes, I watched the majestic purple trains slowly descend from above, riders applauding wildly upon returning to the station.  A comet appears to surge forward from the zero car, propelling the five carriages through the abyss.  Glowing stars twinkle as the trains slow, and there’s a Flux Capacitor on the back of each one.  Looks like Doc Brown traveled to Celestial Park at some point in time, and these vehicles are absolutely magnificent.  Two are running on each track.  We board from the center.  There’s an unload station to each side where travelers jump off before the cars are advanced to the load platform with restraints in the air.

I reached the grouper, and was assigned row eight of ten, so close to the back.  The gates opened and I climbed into the left side.  The Mack seat is comfy as can be. The lap bar lowers from overhead and sits snugly on my thighs.  It’s supremely comfortable.  I’m onboard, it’s finally time.  I’ve been waiting years for this.  The onboard audio kicks in, and we make the turnaround to enter the launch directly beneath the station floor.  

Join me for the next episode for my first-time experience on Stardust Racers.  Will it live up to the hype?  Can it top VelociCoaster?  Will I keep my shoes on?  Then I’ll battle line fatigue in the longest queue of my life for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry.  Is it worth it?  What about Mario Kart?  Those questions and more will be answered in Part 2 at Universal Epic Universe.  That’s next time on Coaster Redux.