This trip changed more than our vacation plans. It changed my career.
For Christmas, my husband gave me one of the best gifts he’s ever given me.
A Disney vacation.
Not a gift card. Not a surprise itinerary.
Just permission.
“You have free reign. Plan whatever you want.”
If you know me, you know that wasn’t just a present—it was permission to obsess over crowd calendars, compare resorts, study park maps, and spend entirely too much time watching ride POV videos on YouTube.
My love language has always been logistics.
So naturally, I called one of my best friends, Katie.
At the time, she was already a travel advisor. Today, she’s the owner of Good Plans Travel Co.
We started dreaming up the perfect Disney vacation for our families.
Then Epic Universe announced it would be open.
Our twin boys were about to turn six in February, and thanks to about fourteen straight months of Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, and How to Train Your Dragon, Epic Universe had become the biggest item on their little bucket lists.
So we made a new plan.
The boys knew we were going to Disney.
They had absolutely no idea we were also taking them to Epic Universe.
The Surprise
On the drive to Florida, we handed Dane and Deacon an early birthday gift.
Inside were matching Yoshi and Donkey Kong shirts.
And tucked underneath…
Custom-designed Epic Universe tickets that I’d laminated as keepsakes.
Watching it slowly click that they weren’t just getting birthday shirts…
They were actually going to Epic Universe…
…is one of those parenting moments I’ll never forget.
There was screaming.
There were tears.
There was approximately one hundred questions asked in under thirty seconds.
Can we ride Mario Kart?
Is Bowser really there?
Can we meet Donkey Kong?
The excitement in that car is something I’ll remember forever.
The next morning, on their actual sixth birthday, we walked through the gates together.
Was Epic Universe Worth It?
Short answer?
Absolutely.
Long answer?
Absolutely…
…with a plan.
Because here’s the honest truth.
Epic Universe is one of the most immersive, impressive theme parks I’ve ever visited.
It’s also one of the busiest.
And those two things can absolutely exist at the same time.
A Little Context Matters
Before I tell you about the crowds, here’s something important.
We intentionally planned this trip around the twins’ birthday, which meant visiting over President’s Day weekend.
On top of that, Orlando was hosting a large conference during our visit, bringing even more people into the area.
Then there was one more curveball.
Stardust Racers was closed for scheduled maintenance.
That meant one of the park’s biggest attractions wasn’t operating, naturally pushing more guests toward the remaining rides.
Looking back now as a travel advisor, these are exactly the kinds of details I help my clients consider before they book.
Crowd calendars only tell part of the story.
Holiday weekends, conferences, scheduled maintenance, and special events can completely change your experience.
None of those things ruined our trip.
They just made having a strategy much more important.
Super Nintendo World Was Everything They Hoped It Would Be
This was why we came.
We rope dropped Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness.
Even then, we waited about forty-five minutes because the ride temporarily went down while we were already in line.
That became our first reminder that even the best plan sometimes needs flexibility.
Thankfully…
Walking into Super Nintendo World completely erased the frustration.
The music.
The moving scenery.
Question blocks overhead.
Characters everywhere.
Watching our boys realize they were actually inside the world they’d spent months imagining made every bit of planning worth it.
Their favorite experiences included:
- Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness
- Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge
- Meeting Mario and Luigi
- Completing Power-Up Band challenges
- Exploring every corner of the land
- Riding Yoshi’s Adventure after dark when everything glows
The biggest surprise?
The Power-Up Bands.
I’ll be honest—I questioned whether they were worth the extra money.
By lunchtime, I had my answer.
The boys weren’t asking what ride was next.
They were hunting for hidden challenges, earning keys, and celebrating every little victory together.
Instead of simply waiting in lines, they were immersed in the experience.
For our family, they were absolutely worth it.
My Favorite Park Day Essentials
These are the items our family never travels to a theme park without:
- Mario & Luigi Crossbody Bags
- Refillable Water Bottles
- Apple AirTags
- AirTag holders for strollers or kids
- Portable Power Bank
- Stroller Fan
- Dude Wipes
- Spray Hand Sanitizer
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products my own family actually uses and loves.
Isle of Berk Completely Stole My Heart
I expected Nintendo World to be my favorite.
It wasn’t.
Berk was.
After the crowds and energy of Nintendo World, walking into Berk felt like taking a deep breath.
The pathways felt wider.
The atmosphere felt calmer.
The boys actually had room to play instead of immediately getting into another queue.
The theming was unbelievable.
The interactive areas were fantastic.
And somehow it managed to feel exciting without feeling overwhelming.
Also…
The mac and cheese cone deserves every bit of the hype.
Parents with younger kids…
This land is your reset button.
Don’t rush through it.
Here’s What Social Media Doesn’t Show
Epic Universe is amazing.
It’s also incredibly stimulating.
Especially for younger kids.
There are lights.
Music.
Crowds.
Screens.
Excitement.
Constant movement.
Big emotions.
Long waits.
And eventually…
Everyone hits a wall.
One thing I wish social media showed more often is that even incredible vacations have hard moments.
Kids get overwhelmed.
Parents get tired.
Plans change.
That doesn’t mean you planned the wrong trip.
It means you’re a real family.
Not a Disney commercial.
The Midday Break That Saved Our Day
One of the smartest decisions we made was leaving the park.
We were transferring from Universal’s Dockside Inn to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort that afternoon, so instead of pushing through, we used it as our reset.
The boys were excited to see our Cars Family Suite.
One of them even squeezed in a quick nap.
We unpacked a little.
Relaxed.
Grabbed some food.
Everyone came back emotionally… different.
Sometimes the best park strategy isn’t another ride.
It’s knowing when to stop.
Then Something Completely Unexpected Happened
As we walked back into Epic Universe that evening, another family stopped us.
They were leaving for the day.
They had five Express Passes they weren’t going to use.
They handed them to us.
No strings attached.
Just pure kindness.
We immediately used them for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge.
It ended up being everyone’s favorite ride of the entire day.
But the bigger difference wasn’t just skipping a line.
The pace of our evening completely changed.
Instead of constantly checking wait times…
We were simply enjoying being together.
Would I Recommend Express Passes?
For many families…
Yes.
Especially if:
- You’re visiting during holidays or school breaks.
- You only have one day at Epic Universe.
- You’re traveling with younger kids.
- Long waits can derail your day.
- You value a more relaxed pace.
Posted waits during our visit regularly reached 75 to 90+ minutes.
And when one major attraction is closed or temporarily goes down, every other queue gets longer.
That’s another lesson I carried into becoming a travel advisor.
Express Passes aren’t automatically the right answer for everyone.
Sometimes I’d recommend changing your travel dates instead.
Sometimes I’d recommend adding another park day.
Sometimes Express Passes truly are worth every penny.
Every family is different.
That’s why personalized planning matters.
What We’d Do Differently Next Time
If I could plan this trip again, here’s what I’d change.
1. Visit Different Dates
President’s Day weekend plus a large Orlando conference created heavier crowds than we would normally choose.
2. Seriously Consider Express Passes
They’re expensive.
They’re also worth discussing before you book.
3. Accept That You Won’t Do Everything
Epic Universe isn’t a park you casually conquer in one day.
Choose priorities.
Celebrate what you accomplish.
Leave something for next time.
4. Spend More Time in Berk
It was our favorite family space in the park.
5. Experience Nintendo World Instead of Racing Through It
Some of our favorite memories weren’t rides.
They were watching the boys simply be kids.
Why This Trip Changed My Life
When we got home, Katie was preparing to launch Good Plans Travel Co.
We started talking more about the trip.
About all the little decisions that affected our experience.
About how much I genuinely loved planning every detail.
About helping families avoid common mistakes before they ever left home.
Somewhere in those conversations…
A new career quietly started.
Looking back, Epic Universe wasn’t just the trip that made lifelong memories for our boys.
It was the trip that inspired me to become a travel advisor.
Now I get to help other families create those same moments—while hopefully making the journey a little smoother.
Final Verdict
Would we go back?
Tomorrow.
Not because everything went perfectly.
Because it didn’t.
It was crowded.
It was expensive.
The kids got tired.
We adjusted our plans.
We laughed.
We pivoted.
And somehow those imperfect moments became some of our favorite memories.
Watching our boys walk into Nintendo World for the first time.
Exploring Berk together.
Eating mac and cheese cones.
Ending the night with Express Passes gifted by complete strangers.
Those are the moments we’ll remember.
And next time?
We’ll know exactly what we’d do differently.
Ready to Plan an Epic Universe Vacation Without the Guesswork?
Every trip teaches me something.
Now my clients get the benefit of those lessons before they ever leave home.
Whether you’re wondering when to visit, if Express Passes are worth it, where to stay, or how to combine Epic Universe with Disney, I’d love to help you build a vacation that fits your family’s priorities—not someone else’s.
Fill out my Vacation Inquiry Form, and let’s create an Epic Universe vacation that’s focused on magical memories, not avoidable mistakes.
