Universal Orlando opened a brand new theme park in 2025. Epic Universe introduced new technology and franchises to the city families love to vacation in. In 2026, Universal is debuting a new nighttime event at this park that takes place after hours. To help you decide which is best for your visit, let’s go through a comparison including why the full-day ticket is a better option for some visitors than the evening event.
Epic Universe After Hours vs Regular Park Visit
What is Universal Nights at Epic Universe?
Here’s what’s included with Universal Nights at Epic Universe.
The event promises:
- Exclusive access to all attractions and experiences
- Character meet and greets throughout the park
- Unlimited snacks: berry flavored Celestial Popcorn and crispy Kimchi Bao in Celestial Park
- Coca-Cola Freestyle machine drinks
When is the Epic Universe after hours event?
So far, this event is scheduled to take place on these dates:
- Saturday October 3, 2026
- Saturday October 17, 2026
When can you buy tickets for Universal Nights at Epic Universe?
Tickets go on sale for both Universal Nights at Epic Universe dates on August 13, 2026.
How much is the Epic Universe after hours event?
Tickets start at $179 per night, per person, plus tax.
What time does this event start?
The Universal Nights at Epic Universe after hours event runs from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
What time can you get into Epic Universe for Universal Nights?
Guests with an event ticket can enter Epic Universe starting at 7:00 p.m.
How long is this special event?
The event itself is three hours long. However, with the event ticket granting access to the park starting at 7:00 p.m., that gives you an additional two hours during the regular park day to visit, adding up to five hours in total.
Epic Universe Regular Day Ticket Benefits
Hours change throughout the year but Epic Universe is usually open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m. Buying a regular ticket will usually give you at least ten hours of park time. Remember, if you are staying at a Universal Orlando resort hotel, you can enter the park an hour early in the morning with regular day time ticket access. This can be very helpful when you want to do as much as possible. It can be hard to get everything in in this amount of time depending on how long lines are and if every attraction is working efficiently. The stage shows require a little planning, making sure you’re in the right place at showtime. There are a few rides that can have a long wait like the Harry Potter Ministry of Magic ride and the Donkey Kong rollercoaster. The Mario Kart attraction is also usually a solid hour plus wait. Depending on crowds, waiting for and enjoying these few things above could easily take up half of your day. There are plenty of characters during the day in each land. Snacks and drinks aren’t included when you visit with a regular ticket, of course. Being in the park for the full day though does give you more meal time opportunities compared to just being in the park for dinner time at the special after hours event.
Universal Nights vs Epic Universe Day Ticket Price Comparison
A one day ticket for Epic Universe starts at $139.99.
To compare specifically, on Saturday October 3, 2026 a one day ticket to Epic Universe costs $179.99
plus $11.70 in tax for a total of $191.69.
It looks like the price for the three hour event with less people is about the same as the full day ticket which usually gives visitors at least 10 hours in the park.
That said, these will be very different experiences.
Universal Nights is expected to have much shorter waits but you risk an attraction being down and not having enough time to come back up.
Which is Right For You: Epic Universe Day vs Special Event
Visit for the day if…
Those who want to experience everything, or as much as possible in the park, should plan to visit during the day with a regular Universal ticket.
Even with short waits at the after hours event, you will probably not experience everything unless you are strategic and rushing and the stars align.
Go to the Epic Universe after hours event if…
The park is beautiful at night but going for your first time for just those few hours won’t provide a full experience. If the idea of a special event sounds fun and you’ll be happy with only experiencing a portion of the rides, Universal Nights could be a great fit.
If budget and time are not a consideration…
Visiting with both a regular park day ticket and an after hours event ticket could be a great option for those wanting to do it all. There is enough to do that you could spend a full day and find yourself wanting to see more and repeat favorites.
Get the best discounted Universal and Epic Universe tickets through Unlocked Magic
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